Week 126

Edition 126

www.thecourier.es

Friday, July 19, 2013

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BARON BRIAN DE-THRONED Costa Blanca cocaine ring smashed INSIDE TODAY

By Alex Trelinski A suspected British drugs baron, described as 'one of the top ten most investigated criminals in Europe', has been arrested on the Costa Blanca, accused of trying to smuggle cocaine into Europe.

Brian Charrington, 57, a former associate of notorious gangster Curtis Warren, was detained along with his son in Calpe. The former Middlesbrough car dealer's girlfriend, who detectives allege had travelled to Venezuela to organise a shipment of cocaine back to Europe on a yacht, was also arrested.

The police operation led to the seizure of 220 kilos of cocaine worth 12 million Euros at an apartment in L’Albir outside Benidorm.

Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency, Venezuelan police and a regional 18member-state police organisation called Ameripol set up to fight drugs trafficking,

were also involved.

Seven people were arrested in Spain and six in Venezuela during the joint operation. Spanish police described Charrington as

'one of the ten most investigated criminals' by European police forces and 'leader of an international gang of drugs smugglers.' A

Continued on P3

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Friday, July 19, 2013

Are you a snapper? Do you have a great photo? Send it to design@thecourier.es and if we think it is good enough we will publish it as our Picture of the Week TELEPHONE

96 692 1003 679 096 309 965 99 66 66 E-MAIL office@thecourier.es WEB www.thecourier.es HEAD OFFICE Calle Luis Canovas Martinez 1. Urb Aguas Nuevas, Torrevieja 03183, ALICANTE PHONE: 96 692 1003 Email: office@thecourier.es OPENING HOURS Mon - Fri 1030 to 1730 EDITOR Alex Trelinski CONSULTANT EDITOR Donna Gee ADVERTISING SALES 966 921 003 office@thecourier.es TELESALES 966 921 003 679 096 309 Sally Los Alcazares, San Javier 618 391 491 Myra Quesada, Rojales, Torrevieja, San Miguel Tel. 618 583 765 Jean La Zenia, Playa Flamenca, Cabo Roig Tel. 618 898 034 Patrick International Rep 5 Languages Tel 685 901 265 Writers Donna Gee Sally Bengtsson Jeanette Erath Alex Trelinski Dave Silver Tony Mayes Heidi Wardman John McGregor

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Picture of the Week

JUNGLE DRUMS

This photo was taken recently at Aberford, Leeds, England.

By JEAN DRIFFIELD

SAFE LANDING Electric shock

THE cost of electricity is going up. The Spanish government has called time on subsidising bills after it tried to plug a huge deficit built up by state subsidies, with domestic bills set to rise by 3.2 per cent over the next few months.

"This is what’s needed to solve our country's electricity sector problems," according to the Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria."With this major change we aim to correct a key imbalance in the economy," she added.

Spain's electricity sector has built up a deficit of 26 billion Euros since 2005, the difference between production costs and the tariffs, some of which are government controlled.

Each year, the hole grows by another four billion euros.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government decided to share the costs of the reform. It cut subsidies to energy companies and networks by 2.7 billion euros a year while pushing up consumers' bills by 900 million euros and contributing another 900 million euros from the state treasury.

"If we had done nothing, the two other alternatives in terms of energy were the collapse of the system or increasing the price for consumers by more than 40 per cent," said Industry Minister Jose Manuel Soria.

TORREVIEJA has celebrated the feast of Virgen del Carmen: - the patron saint of sailors and fishermen.

The highlight last Tuesday was the saint’s statue being sailed into the harbour on the fishing vessel, Rosa Maria Juarez, accompanied by around 100 boats. Once the statue landed on terra firma and was carried around the city’s main streets, entertainment was provided by the Torrrevieja Musical Union and Municipal Choir.

Some of the younger and braver spectators also took part in the traditional greasy pole contest where they had to scramble across a wooden pole

smeared with fat to collect a flag at the end of it! The pole was balanced over the harbour wall, with only five people successful in achieving their objective.

Nobody was quite sure how long this tradition of Torrevieja has been going on for!

You can learn more about Torrevieja’s shipping and fishing history in an exhibition that runs until Sunday July 28th at the Virgen del Carmen cultural centre.

The feast day was also celebrated in other towns across the region including Algorfa, Cox, and Santa Pola, which staged a spectacular firework display on Levante Beach.

Touch of shame A Los Alcazeres man has admitted to sexually abusing his 12 year step-daughter on a local beach. He was given a two year prison sentence after the incident last year when he “touched” the girl when her mother was asleep. He

also cannot be within 500 metres of her for three years after his jail stretch ends, and he was ordered to pay 1500 Euros in compensation.

WANTED – MORE HEADLINE NEWS!

DO YOU have a story that might grab the headlines?

What’s all the gossip about round your way? A spate of robberies, perhaps – or maybe you’ve spotted a celebrity in the neighbourhood. Whether your news involves fire, police, ambulance, accidents – or hap-

pier events like family weddings (particularly Golden and Diamond ones!), Just phone the Courier office on 966 921 003 or email office@thecourier.es We’re waiting for your call…and next week’s Front Page story.

Friday Sunny High 29° Low 22° Chance of rain 0% Monday Sunny High 31 Low 22° Chance of rain 0%

Tuesday Sunny High 31° Low 21° Chance of rain 0%

Saturday Sunny High 30° Low 22° Chance of rain 0% Wednesday Sunny High 32° Low 22° Chance of rain 0%

Sunday Sunny High 30° Low 21° Chance of rain 0% Thursday Sunny High 31° Low 23° Chance of rain 0%

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Friday, July 19, 2013

BOOZY BRITS IN RAPE SHAME YOUNG British holidaymakers in Spain’s Balaerics led to a rise in reported rape and sex assaults in Spain last year according to the UK Foreign Office.

The annual British Behaviour Abroad report says that British Consul workers in Spain helped out close to 5 thousand British citizens, either as tourists or residents. Spain saw a total of 4,658 British people being assisted according to the Foreign Office’s annual British Behaviour Abroad. There were decreases in arrests, detentions and hospitalisation cases – mainly due to local initiatives involving consular staff, police and hospital authorities. But the blight on the figures was a rise in sex cases, which also saw increases in other popular tourist areas for young people like Greece and Turkey. The report reveals that alcohol continues to be a major factor in many of these incidents.

Foreign & Commonwealth Office Minister Mark Simmonds, said: “I am deeply concerned to see an

Smoke gets in your nose

increase in the number of reported rape and sexual assault cases involving British people. The priority for our consular staff is the safety and wellbeing of British travellers and we will continue to work, including with other Governments and tour operators, to help to prevent further cases and provide all possible support for victims.

This support includes explaining local procedures, accompanying people to the police station, helping them deal with local authorities and medical staff, and contacting friends and family at home if that is wanted.”

Spain received 13.6 million Britons during 2012 – almost a quarter of all overseas tourists and an estimated 800,000 Britons are resident for all or part of the year.

The countries where Britons are most likely to need consular assistance are the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan. Spain is 11th on the list.

ALGERIAN BOTHER

POLICE have arrested two Algerians suspected of robbing houses on the El Barranco urbanisation in Villamartin. Officers chased a speeding car with two men leaping out and trying to hide in a building, whilst a third escaped by climbing out of a window. In a separate incident in the area, two Algerians were arrested for trying to A British man who had a Marijuana factory in his house steal a woman’s purse in a supermarket car park. They has been arrested by Rojales Police, after his house were spotted by the police in the same car park a few caught fire. hours later and tried to resist arrest by kicking and A neighbour was walking his dog by the Rojales proper- punching the officers. ty when he spotted smoke coming out of an electrical panel at the side of the building. When police arrived, they whiffed the strong odour of Marijuana coming out A 32 year old street light thief has been arrested by the onto the street, as well as being alerted by the somewhat Guardia Civil in Valencia province. The man had stolen 9 agitated state of the owner. thousand Euros worth of LED light bulbs from the towns The Guardia Civil was brought in and 50 Marijuana of Bellus and Benissoda. He scaled lamp-posts to steal plants were found within the building’s basement and the bulbs which worth around 200 Euros each, though garage, as well as well as special drying equipment, the Guardia have managed to recover 29. lamps and planters.

HAVE YOU GOT A LIGHT BOY?

BARON BRIAN DE-THRONED

From Page 1

Costa Blanca court has embargoed bank accounts, property and other assets worth around 6 million Euros.

The head of Spain’s Drugs and Organised Crime Police Unit, Eloy Quiros, said that they had seized a number of luxury cars and boats. He also said that Charrington he used his 10 villas on the Costa Blanca to provide shelter for criminal fugitives like Andrew Moran who was arrested at his Calpe poolside in a Guardia raid in May.

Quiros added that Charrington’s gang would change the names of their boats to try to confuse the authorities in shipping drugs around Europe and South America, with L’Albir as the main base.

Two years ago his fortune was put at £20million. In the eighties he teamed up with Curtis Warren, whose personal fortune was so large he appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List, to import cocaine to the UK from Venezuela. The pair were arrested in early 1992 after a shipment of almost 2,000 pounds (900 kilos) of

cocaine sealed inside lead ingots in steel boxes was discovered.

The subsequent trial collapsed after it transpired Charrington was a police informant for the North-East Regional Crime Squad.

Britain's security forces went on to re-home him in Australia but his visa was revoked shortly after his arrival. He then moved to Calpe where he was accused of building up a drugs empire. Charrington was acquitted in two drugs trials in the UK before being extradited to Germany and sentenced to seven years

jail in 2003 for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the country. His son Brian Charrington Jr served four years and three months.

Charrington senior was extradited to France following his release in 2006 to serve a two year prison term over the discovery of 650 kilos of hashish found on his yacht in the English Channel in 1995.

In 2004 he lost a civil suit against the Assets Recovery Agency over more than £2million found in his loft which he and Curtis Warren disputed the ownership of.

Lynda’s battle THE actress and TV presenter, Lynda Bellingham, who is also the patron of the Costa Blanca Samaritans, has been diagnosed with cancer.

Bellingham, 65, is known for shows such as All Creatures Great and Small, and Loose Women, as well as the Oxo TV adverts screened in the 1980s and '90s.

The star, who has a home in the Northern Costa Blanca, has postponed a UK tour of Kay Mellor's play A Passionate Woman to have treatment. No further details of her condition have been made public.

"I'm devastated not to be able to honour my commitments to the play this year," she said in a statement.

"But having toured many times before, I'm aware of the sheer stamina needed and I need to prioritise my recovery.” The nature of Lynda’s cancer has not been disclosed.

She also currently presents Country House Sunday on ITV, a weekly show in which she explores stately homes around the UK. She is a regular panellist on Loose Women and was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing four years ago.

Lynda has been a high-profile supporter of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support since her sister, Barbara, died from lung cancer. She became patron of the Costa Blanca Samaritans three years ago.

She has two sons and married for a third time on her 60th birthday in 2008.

Locals get the goat

THE Arrui goats, which are one of the symbols of the Sierra Espuña mountain range near Murcia, could become fair game for hunters. The goats are reported to be causing a lot of damage inside and outside the natural park, such as eating crops, and spreading disease to flocks of other livestock. The arrui

goat is not a native species, but was imported in the sixties from the Atlas mountains of Morocco. The numbers of arruis is said to have grown to thousands over the last few years, and local residents and farmers have signed a petition demanding something is done to reduce their numbers.

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Friday, July 19, 2013

Cartagena sisters are doing it IN a story that could easily feature on the UK TV show Long Lost Family, twins that were adopted as babies, discovered a quarter of a century later that they had an older sister. They hired a private detective to find her and after a few weeks, he tracked her down. But there was a big surprise, as he didn’t find just find one sister: - he found three and all have met for the first time in Cartagena.

Esperanza and Mercedes are both 25, and their adoptive parents never hid the fact that they were adopted, but they didn't know anything about a sister until they went to collect a document from

the youth protection office in the city. Last week saw Carmen, Cristina, Esperanza, Mercedes and

María José meet for the first time in Cartagena, with a mixture of tears, hugs and lots of questions

as well as laughter, as the sisters vowed to make up for their 25 years of lost time.

FLY LITTLE BIRDIES Touchpaper lit for Elche

7 bird poachers have been arrested in the Cartagena area for illegally capturing 37 goldfinches. The bird is a protected species in Murcia, and in one case, the Guardia Civil released 25 birds, witnessed by five of the illegal bird catchers.

TOO MUCH TOO YOUNG

Being drunk and merry has got too much for people who live in one part of Alicante City. Residents in the Golf area of the Playa de San Juan have said they’ve had enough of the ‘botellón’ street drinking parties which bring noise and rubbish to the area.

They say the noise means that both residents and tourists can get no sleep, and that some of the drunken youngsters are even jumping over walls and using their swimming pools.

A number of shopkeepers have joined forces with the local residents to complain to the police, who they feel haven’t done enough about the problem. They are also planning a petition to call for action from the authorities.

QUICK MELT

Guardia flat rescue

Smoke billowed out for miles, as a plastic recycling An unconcious man was rescued from his blazing unit caught fire on Sunday lunchtime. The smoke Torrevieja apartment by Guardia Civil officers on from the fire at a warehouse in the Espinardo area of Wednesday morning. He was carried out of his second Murcia City could be seen some 30 kilometres away floor home, as fourteen other residents of the building in Fortuna. 60 firefighters and some half a million were evacuated. litres of water were used to put out the blaze, with Two Guardia officers heard coughing and cries for help dampening down operations continuing a day later. from behind the door, which they kicked down and with the help of their torches, they saw the hand of a man in the midst of plumes of black smoke. One of them then evacuated the rest of the complex which included three children, whilst the other officer pulled the man out of the smoke-filled apartment.

The Guardia did not release the name of the man or To r r e v i e j a ’ s details of the location of the building when The Courier International went to press.

Habaneras singing contest will once again be streamed on the internet. The 59th staging of the event starts this Monday at the Eras de la has been launched along Two Romanians have Sal, with all seven evenings with a Twitter feed for the been arrested for stealing being televised via competition which will feapassenger bags from San www.habaneras.org ture a number of choirs from Javier airport, Murcia, and An official Facebook page Asia. using stolen credit cards.

The two men pretended to be tourists and have been charged with five crimes.

After stealing bags and suitcases, they would use The newly-born baby, who was dumped in the drains of an any credit and charge cards Alicante apartment complex by his mother, was discharged they would find within them from Alicante General Hospital on Tuesday. to then travel further afield to The boy, who spent close to 30 hours underground, is times hundreds of kilometres make ATM withdrawals. The being looked after by foster parents, with his 26 year old Guardia said that they would a week between Alicante mother in custody on a charge of attempted murder. use hire cars to pretend to and Murcia to use a range of be tourists and they would ATM machines.

The arrested duo, who live change their vehicle after a week. They also used forged in Alicante and Valencia, A 70 year old bather died in the sea at Los Alcazares on papers as part of their plan have a criminal record, with Tuesday lunchtime. Lifeguards were unable to resuscito make identification and the authorities not ruling out tate him after bathers pulled him out of the water close tracking them down harder, more arrests on what is still to the Club Nautico. and they would travel some- an open investigation.

Choirs on-line

Elche’s famous annual firework display is looking to be recognised as a major tourist attraction. The Nit de l’Alba on August 13th and 14th celebrates Elche’s patron saint, the Virgin Mary.

The city’s tourism councillor, Pablo Ruz, said there ought to be greater domestic and international promotion of what he claimed to be the biggest firework display in the world.

Big debt owed

Spain’s financial woes now mean that the country’s debt amounts to over 20 thousand Euros per person. In the last eighteen months since Mariano Rajoy’s government took charge, debt levels have risen by 20 per cent and 200 billion Euros.

Gun but no roses Three suspected Benidorm drug-runners who owned a Kalishnikov machine gun were arrested by National Police after their car was stopped in the town.

One of the men ran away from the vehicle, throwing a bag with cocaine into the street, before he was caught. A subsequent search of one of their houses uncovered the machine gun, plus hand grenades and bullet-proof vests.

ROMANIANS BAGGED

BABY OUT DEAD IN THE WATER

Friday, July 19, 2013

RAJOY ON THE RACK SPAIN'S prime minister says he will not give in to "blackmail",amid calls for him to resign over alleged links to a suspect in a payments scandal. Mariano Rajoy said he would fulfil the mandate given by the Spanish people. The calls came after a newspaper published text messages he allegedly sent to the suspect, Luis Barcenas, ex-treasurer of his Popular Party (PP).

Meanwhile Mr Barcenas repeated in court allegations that Mr Rajoy received payments from a slush fund.

He said Mr Rajoy secretly received money between 2008 and 2010.

An El Mundo report said Mr Rajoy had sent text messages of support to Mr Barcenas, who is in custody facing trial for corruption and tax fraud. He denies the allegations. Mr Rajoy, too, denies any wrongdoing, though he did not deny sending the text messages. He said they showed his commitment to democracy and to allowing the justice system to do its work without political interference. Last Sunday the leader of the main opposition party, the PSOE, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, called for Mr Rajoy's immediate resignation. He’s now put down a censure motion in Parliament which has the support of all the opposition parties, but since the PP has an overall majority, Rajoy will be safe. The PP are also said to be engineering a move where the prime minister will only have to answer questions for a few minutes in any censure debate.

Mr Rajoy said a prime minister could not be expected to spend all day denying every rumour or insinuation made about him.

"The rule of law does not bow to blackmail

and the institutions, the administrations of justice, the judicial police and tax administrations have acted and are acting and will continue to act with absolute independence," he said.

"This is a serious democracy... and I will submit myself to investigation."

Luis Barcenas has been denied bail pending his trial. It is claimed that Mr Barcenas ran a PP slush fund that took donations from construction magnates and distributed them to party leaders in cash. El Mundo said last week that it had delivered documents with Mr Barcenas's original ledger entries to the High Court. Another paper, El Pais, published similar documents earlier this year. Lawyers said that Mr Barcenas handed over the originals in court on Monday. El Mundo's most recent report includes a text message Mr Rajoy apparently sent to Mr Barcenas in January this year - when the slush fund allegations broke.

He said: "Luis, I understand. Stay strong.

I'll call you tomorrow. A hug."

The paper said the conversations showed Mr Rajoy maintained "direct and permanent contact" from at least May 2011 to March 2013.

Mr Barcenas is being investigated over allegations he stashed up to 48m euros (£41m) in secret Swiss bank accounts.

Prosecutors allege that some of the funds stem from illegal party donations or kickbacks. He and his wife are also suspected of falsifying documents on their tax statements between 2002 and 2006. The couple deny the charges.

19 people have been arrested in Alicante Province and Murcia for fraudulently claiming over 600 thousand Euros of social security payments.

Two Spanish ring-leaders have been charged with forgery and fraud, after producing fake work contract documents for illegal

Moroccan immigrants, who would then claim unemployment benefits.

Police say the gang produced fake contracts for at least 105 people, with 41 of those claiming unemployment benefits, despite not having paid into the Social Security system. Authorities were alerted to the possibility of a scam when they took an interest in an Alicante company that didn’t actually produce anything, short of ‘hiring’ workers on an irregular basis.

Hiring and firing but no working PIRATES SCUPPERED TWO ‘pirate’ taxi drivers have been arrested in Murcia City by the National Police, after assaulting a licensed driver who had complained about their lawbreaking.

Two Morroccan men aged 44 and 37 had operated outside the city’s bus station offering an illegal and unlicensed taxi service.

ROBBERS NICKED

A gang of robbers has been smashed with help from a specialist Guardia Civil team based in Torrevieja. Dozens of officers were involved in the operation which was centred on Alicante City, with several arrests over a series of violent robberies committed throughout Alicante Province.

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Friday, July 19, 2013

editor@thecourier.es COURIER POSTBAG: YOUR VIEWS ON OUR NEWS

Nigel the Voice I HAVE to agree with your reviewer that the recent Nigel Hopkins concert, Songs That Will Live Forever, could have done with a little more breaking up.

The choirs were superb but the format was rather rigid until Nigel joined Christine Lombardy in a comedy version of I Remember It Well near the end of the show.

The number brought the house down and demonstrated conductor Hopkins’ amazing versatility. He arranges, comperes and conducts all his excellent shows, which I suspect is why we don’t hear more of the asset that earned him the nickname ‘Leather Lungs’ during his early days in the music business.

Come on Nigel, let’s hear more of Hopkins the Voice at the next of your splendid shows. R STINSON, Quesada

Our concern for the lonely and the unwell

FURTHER to the two letters in your great paper about Age Concern.

La Marina Urbanisation is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest urbanisation in Europe, and now Age Concern has an office next to the Town Hall which is manned the second and fourth Fridays of each month from 10am until 1pm.

Despite leaflets advertising Age Concern having been handed out, it

CLEVER BEGGARS DON’T FOOL ME

is obvious that the job is too big for mere leaflets!

Please, please can you print this letter so that we may advertise to a very wide audience (your paper is VERY popular!) in order to reach lonely or unwell residents that may need our help. The telephone number of Age Concern at La Marina is 966443002, and the main office at La Siesta is 966786887.

PAM COTTERRILL, La Marina

I'M fed up of being lunged at in front of my local supermarkets by musicians and beggars looking for every cent they can lay their hands on.

None of these people appears to be Spanish, but East Europeans and North Africans who are just trying it on.

There's one Polish or Romanian guy who stands in front of an Aldi branch all day with his dog and who I've seen twice in the last month buying a 48-can box of beer!

He apparently even has the bonus of being taken home in a large, expensivelooking car. I've seen it with my own eyes!

These money-grabbing pests spoil it for the unfortunate Spaniards who are out of work, but I presume these drunks are having a field day right now with stupid tourists being conned into thinking that they have a wife and four children to feed.

RON RAVENHALL, Aguas Nuevas, Torrevieja

SOLOS HIT EL RASO If you live on your own and fancy a bit of company and a good social gettogether, then the 50+ Solos group might just fill that gap in your life.

They meet for regular lunches around the area, with their next date a week on Saturday (July 27th) at the El Raso Restaurant on the El Raso Urbanisation, Guardamar.

50+ Solos is a small group of people aged over 50 who support homeless

British ex-servicemen and women who are mainly young people who have been discharged but do not qualify for state aid.

For more details about the group, phone Ruth on 966 789 063. The 50+ Solos will take a break in August before their next meeting at the Reflections Restaurant at San Luis, Torrevieja on Saturday September 7th.

Flat pack heaven The long running saga of the IKEA store development in Alicante seems to be coming an end.

Alicante’s mayor, Sonia Castedo, claims that work on the site will start no later than in 10 months time, and per-

haps as soon as 6 months.

A legal dispute over the use of the land at Rabasa has led to delays, but the hurdles have been overcome with the site being classified as part of a Strategic Territorial Action plan.

It’s Moorish Guardamar kicks-off its 9 day Moors and Christians celebrations tonight with a big parade (Friday) beginning at 9.30 in Labradores Square finishing in Constitucio Square, which will see the coronation of this year’s Lady of Guardamar.

Concerts, fireworks, bell-ringing, parades and mock battles will be just some of the attractions running in Guardamar until Sunday July 28th.

Absent smokers are lighting up my evenings out IS it my imagination, or are the number of smokers in Spain actually falling?

I’ve been pleasantly surprised recently that I am usually able t find a spot in the open air where the taste of my al fresco restaurant meal is not poisoned by some smelly Spaniard’s cigarette fumes.

It’s sod’s law that after checking that nobody with a cigarette packet is anywhere near where we plan to sit, a family of fumadores will plonk themselves down right behind me and light up en bloc just as my succulent steak arrives at the table.

However, lately I seem to be getting through my meals uninterrupted by the ‘Smoking Kills? Does It Heck’ brigade. Indeed, I ate at a local bar the other night where there must have been 30 people dining outside…and not one was smoking.

The abstinence seems to be affecting both residents and holidaymakers . Was I just lucky – or could things really be changing for the better?

N.KING, Torrevieja

DON’T FORGET, WE NEED YOUR DETAILS Letters and emails will only be considered for publication if an address and contact number are provided to confirm authenticity

Friday, July 19, 2013

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PUSSIES GALORE!

I HAVE no idea who dumped three tiny tame kittens in the lakeside wilderness at the bottom of El Raso, but thanks for your cruelty to the helpless.

I’m being sarcastic, of course, because those poor kittens were so docile that they’d have had no chance in the war of the jungle.

Unlike feral cats, which are instinctively petrified of human contact, these little fellas were positively friendly. They were spotted by a local resident while he was taking his rescue dog for a 6am walk. Being an animal lover, Simon realised that these identical black triplets had come from a domestic environment and would have no chance of survival in the feral world. So he took them home, fed and watered them, watched them purr themselves to sleep on his daughter’s lap, and then faced reality.

What on earth was he going to do with three very friendly eight-week old gatitos negros? The family already had a cat and a rescue dog and Simon’s situation was such there was no way he and his family could keep the new arrivals.

Let’s face it, in this situation even the most committed animal lover would probably have to say ‘ sorry, can’t help’. Trying to find a safe, loving home for even one Costa kitten is nigh on impossible in an environment

My brothers-in-claw are here to stay

centre. Instead, he told Simon to take them to a lady called Donna who feeds hungry cats and helps to keep the local feral population down by having them neutered before they can breed.

Yes, I’m talking about Muggins – or should that be Moggins?

Now I don’t take in cats, I just leave food for hungry itinerants in the area inside my back door which they can access through the catflap at any time. I have (or rather had) three moggies of my own until recently, but Greyham – whose stalking exploits you might have read about on this page – has now found a new home where I’m told he is very happy. Meanwhile, Molly sees me as One, two, three, fur...m eet my treble trouble a convenience mother. She actually where many people can’t afford to feed thinks her owners are a non-resident couple themselves, let alone a 12-legged feline who live two streets away, and moves in with family. them when they come to Spain on holiday.

So Simon did the only thing he could. He As they’ve been here most of the summer, took the timid trio to our local vet at El Raso, my home was actually catless when Simon hoping vainly that Julian might be able to rang the doorbell. “I’m in a real quandary,’’ take them in or point him towards a rescue he pleaded, reeling off the story of how he

found the three kittens. “I don’t want to dump them on anyone, but I really don’t know what to do and Julian said you might be able to help.’’

“Where are the kittens?’’ I asked, wildly curious to see them.

When he lifted the catbox out of the car and saw those six appealing eyes staring inquisitively at me, it was love at first sight.

Tom, Dick and Harry were here to stay. At least, that’s how I felt at the time.

Three weeks later, they seem to have doubled in size…and in Dick’s case developed a worrying foot fetish. How do I know it’s Dick and not Tom or Harry? Easy. Only a complete Dick would try to eat my big toes at every opportunity. And Harry has a small giveaway patch of white on his underbelly.

That leaves Tom - he’s the one who’s all black and leaves my toes alone.

As for keeping them all, well that scenario is no longer written clearly in black, black and black.

Let’s say I’m now open to offers … but while I’ll let them go free to good homes, they are certainly not going to any Tom, Dick or Harry.

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Friday, July 19, 2013

Friday, July 19, 2013

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Friday, July 19, 2013

THIS IS YOUR KNIFE!

Indoor Lou staggered into the pub the other evening, collapsed onto the floor and crawled slowly and awkwardly to the bar, moaning softly.

With my sharp intuition honed by years of experience as an investigative journalist, I was the first to react.

'Is something wrong?' I asked him.

Indoor Lou slowly raised his ravaged countenance and croaked: 'Water. Give me water.'

Dave the barman placed a pint glass under the beer pump handle.

'Proper water, Dave!' I yelled. 'Not your diluted ale.'

We members of the pub discussion group each grabbed a piece of Indoor Lou's collapsed form and lifted him onto a stool.

Lou sat there swaying precariously for a moment. We thought he might fall off and join Ol' Red Eyes on the floor.

But Lou seemed to rally and Ol' Red Eyes was spared from being awoken from yet another marathon sleep.

'So what troubles you, my friend?' I asked Indoor Lou. He lifted an index finger and indicated with the index finger on his other hand a small sore spot. 'I've got a splinter,' he gulped.

'Blimey,' I said. 'The way you've been carrying on, I thought it was something serious.'

Indoor Lou glared at me.

'It might be nothing to you, brave Dave Silver, but I happen to have a persistent, abnormal and irrational fear of splinters that compels me to avoid getting one, despite the awareness and reassurance that the situation is not dangerous.'

'For goodness sake, Lou, stop wittering!' declared Ol' Red Eyes who had been awakened by the unfolding drama. Still lying on the floor but propped up on one elbow, he continued: 'What you've just described so long-windedly is called a phobia.

'Why go round the houses explaining your feeble

shortcomings when one little word will do it. That's the trouble with the world today - people wasting time by jabbering incessantly. And I should know, I used to be an English teacher.'

I nudged Ol' Red Eyes' supporting elbow with my foot and he dropped his head and went back to sleep.

'Well, it's perfectly clear that all is not well with Indoor

Lou,' I said. 'The poor man still has his splinter.'

Daft Barry announced: 'I have a knife.'

I shook my head. 'No, Barry. I don't think that threatening Indoor Lou is going to solve his problem.'

'No, Dave Silver,' said Daft Barry. 'I have a Swiss Army knife with all those extra thingies. It has tweezers, toothpick, corkscrew, can opener, bottle opener, slotted/flathead screwdrivers, Phillips-head screwdriver, nail file, scissors, saw, file, hook, magnifying glass, ballpoint pen, fish scaler, hex wrench and pliers.'

I scratched my head.

'Hmm, one of those attachments might just do it.

Hand over your knife, Barry, and we shall remove Indoor Lou's splinter forthwith.'

But a look of deep embarrassment appeared on Daft Barry's visage. 'Er . . . I haven't got the knife with me.'

'Well can't you just nip

home and get it?' snapped Dave the barman who was fed up because no-one had bought drinks for ages.

'I haven't got my front-door key' explained Daft Barry.

Dave the barman sighed. 'I should have realised that you couldn't be trusted with a key.'

'I do have a key,' whined Daft Barry. 'But it's attached to the key ring on my Swiss Army knife.'

'Perhaps I might be of assistance,' said a stranger who had appeared in our midst. 'I have experience in removing objects using a calm and steady hand.'

'You're a surgeon?' the pub discussion group chorused admiringly.

'No,' said the bloke. 'I'm just very good at playing KerPlunk -- that game where you have to remove plastic straws from a tube without disturbing the marbles above it.'

At which point, we each grabbed a piece of Indoor Lou and carted him off to the local A&E.

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Friday, July 19, 2013

SAY IT IN SPANISH Learn the lingo - with a little help from JEANETTE ERATH Spanish 80

more difficult. As in English there are words that sound similar in Spanish therefore it is necessary to know the different I hope you´ve spent the last week thinking about sounds each letter makes.

Spanish people and listening to Spanish songs, Spain is a difficult language to learn because of the verbs, and doing anything that will help you remember however it is an easy language to master when it comes to speaking. Words are phonetic, they are written how they are the language.

We are going to talk this week about pronunciation. The best spoken and there are clear rules to where to stress a word, I way of course to learn how to pronounce words is to listen to hope you remember the SANE rule, all words are stressed native speakers, the way I do this the most is by watching on their last syllable unless they end with an S, N or a Spanish television, however I appreciate that many of you VOWEL, in which case the second to last syllable is streswill have English language television therefore this option is sed. The only exception to this rule is where the word connot open to you. There are ways to get Spanish television tains an accent, in this case it is the syllable with the acceneven if your antenna is set to the UK. One way is with a small ted letter that is stressed. Let´s think of the word papa... if we mobile aerial and a TDT box, which is like the box you get stress it as I have written it here we are stressing the first PA, your English television through but of course it picks up the if I write it papá, we of course stress the second PÁ... the first Spanish channels. Then of course there is the internet. Not only can you watch Spanish tele online you can also do free online Spanish lessons. The radio is another way to listen to Spanish without having to think too much, as if you pick a music station there are songs interspersed with the talking. That way the effort to listen is less concentrated and of course any radio can pick up the Spanish channels so maybe one or two days a week retune your car stereo to a Spanish channel.

As you are aware there are different accents in Spain, much like there are in the UK, and learning the differences isn´t too important, most accents more or less pronounce the words the same, it´s just that some are clearer than others. There are also local dialects but these cannot really be learned unless you spend a lot of time with Spaniards from the area.

Unless you are willing to try and put effort into your pronunciation you will find understanding Spanish

spelling means pope, the second: dad. So it is important to ensure you know when a word has an accent and stress it accordingly. Another example is from the verb beber... bebe means he or she drinks, bebé mean baby. Practise saying these words BEbe and beBÉ. I always say with non-Spanish native speakers to pronounce the B as a B and the V as a V, this may seem straightforward but Spaniards pronounce the B and V almost the same way and in fact chatting online to Spanish friends, some of them even put a B where there should be a V and vice versa, the sound is difficult for us foreigners, therefore, to begin with at least and until you have mastered the accent keep to the English sounds for these letters. The examples I give are BEBER and VIVIR, of course the E and I sounds are different and if you hear a Spanish person talking you will hear the difference, however again for us non-Spanish it´s hard at first to differentiate.

Another important point to remember in how to pronounce the E and I, when the E is in the middle of a word e.g. directa it´s pronounced EH, and when it is at the end of a word: nueve it is more an AY sound, and the I is pronounced as the English E. In fact this caused my son many problems when learning his vowels in English and Spanish, when learning English I would show him an I and he would pronounce it E, not realising the difference between the languages.

I will leave you this week with some stress homework, underline in the following words where the stress is placed and as you are doing it say the words out loud and get used to it´s sound: AGUA, REPARAR, VENTANA, VIVO, MARAVILLOSO, VERDAD, IMPORTANTE, CERVEZA, LECHE, PANTALONES, LÁMPARA, MIÉRCOLES, VACACIÓN, MADRE.

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Friday, July 19, 2013

KEEP CALM AND STRONG If a dog approached you with their head low, and their mouth curled upwards showing you their teeth and gums, what would you think?

Would you think the dog is about to attack you? The answer is no. The dog is doing this to try and show you how nervous and anxious they are. Anxiety does not exist in the animal world. The only time an animal will become anxious is when they live very closely with humans, who are living tense, frustrated or angry lives.

Some people become familiar with these negative emotions, just like I once did. I had lived with anger, frustration and tension for many years, so in the end I didn’t even realize I was this way. I thought there was nothing wrong with me because I had had these problems for most of my life. That was until Billy, my German Shepherd taught me what humans couldn’t - how to truly live a calm life. Dogs always know our true emotions, even if we don’t! Awareness is the key. How do you really feel?

Another important fact to remember is that when your dog is having problems overcoming something, i.e. fear of other dogs, or humans, or a fear or phobia about something in particular, you, the owner need to be calm and strong for your dog. Imagine if you had a health problem and you visited your doctor and he had a nervous anxious energy. Would you have confidence in the doctor?

We must learn as humans to practice calm in our lives on a daily basis. That is what dogs respond to - calmness. The phrase ‘Dog Whisperer’ means positively influencing dogs using the least amount of sound. Dogs pick up on our quiet energy. Words just create excitement. Silence creates relax-

RIA IN THE FRONT LOOKS AFTER LIMA ation. While I am writing this very article, I am surrounded by seven dogs, three cats and one kitten and you could hear a pin drop. There is total silence and this influences the animals in a very positive way.

Excitement can cause problems in the dog world.

Unbalanced dogs in an excited state may fight each other.

Balanced dogs in an excited state will play with each other.

We are currently fostering a dog called Lima, from Granada, who had her two front legs broken as a puppy. Because of this, she is very fearful of humans. A fearful dog will rehabilitate quicker if they are surrounded by balanced dogs and Lima is reaping the rewards as for the first time in her life she is living in a house and surrounded by balanced dogs. It is beautiful to see how quickly my dogs will teach her that there is nothing to fear. They are much better at my job than I am.

I am the student and they are my teachers. Dogs can help another dog a lot quicker than a human can.

With Lima, it is very important that I take my time with her.

This will create trust. I have to gain Lima’s trust and slowly but surely, by doing the right things, I am and it is beautiful to see. She has been with us for two weeks and she is now beginning to wag her tiny tail when she sees me or my Wife, Jean.

When she knows I am about to feed her, you can hear her make a howling sound like a wolf, which I absolutely love, followed by a little growling sound of contentment.

There may be people that would mistake that little growling sound for some form of intended aggression but they could not be further from the truth. She is simply telling me she is very happy and content at the fact that I am giving her something she really needs, which is quality food. I will keep you informed on little Lima, she is so gentle and she will soon be looking for a forever home.

I am available for consultations throughout the Costa Blanca region if you are having problems with your furry best friend. To book a consultation you can email me at peter@thedogyouneed.com and I will contact you straight away.

We have also set up an animal charity, where we help the most severely abused and injured animals in Spain. If you would be kind enough to donate anything to this special cause you can do by Paypal, where the account details are peter@thedogyouneed.com or to our Nat West charity account, where the sort code is 60-16-03 and the account number is 73754900. Even one euro will help, so please, please, try and support us.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We appreciate every penny.

PETS’ CORNER: CAN YOU TAKE IN A HOMELESS DOG OR CAT? AILSA is a 16 month old large crossbreed. She was found wandering in the campo, very thin and covered in fleas and ticks when she was about 5 months old.

She loves going for a walk, lots of cuddles and would make a super pet. She is fully vaccinated, micro chipped and sterilized. 966 710 047

JESTER. He is a beautiful dark tabby and white young male about 11 weeks old Please contact K9 or PHONE 600 84 54 20 for more info www.k9club.es

Beauty born Feb 2012 Boxer/Labrador cross, beautiful, very friendly playful dog. She loves being around people and is just bursting with love. She would make a great family pet. For more information please telephone the P.E.P.A helpline 650 304 746 or email p.e.p.a.animalcharity@gmail.com

Lara is a beautiful little girl, about six and a half months old. She was found in Pilar de la Horadada, very frightened and covered in fleas and ticks. She is currently living in a foster home and will make a lovely little companion for someone. Please call Yvonne on 630 422 563.

Siamese cross Katarina is a 15 month old house cat. She was recently abandoned and we have had her tested for feline diseases which were negative. She is booked in to be sterilized and now looking for a home. Call. 645 469 253 www.petsinspain.com

Alfie is a 4 month old Fox terrier cross, he was handed into our vets after he was found wandering around La Marina Urb. He is a very happy, playful pup and now in a foster home. He will be medium size when fully grown. Call. 645 469 253 www.petsinspain.com

Ailsa Zeus is a medium to large male Labrador cross he is 8 years old, he is looking for a new home, he has a fantastic temperament is Zeus very good with children and would make a very good family dog. 650 304 746

Jester

Beauty

Lara

Katarina

Alfie

MARABA was 5 weeks old when she was found in a bin with six siblings. Maraba She is now 4 months old and is fully vaccinated and micro chipped. 966 710 047

Friday, July 19, 2013

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LÍNEA DIRECTA ADVISES YOU HOW TO ACT IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT Línea Directa Insurance advises you of the steps to follow in case of a road accident in Spain.

1.

Call the emergency number: 112. They will co-ordinate the procedure and will ask you in detail about the circumstances of the accident.

2.

Remain calm at all times. Switch on the emergency lights and if the state of the vehicle permits, remove the vehicle from the road, in order to avoid delays and further accidents, to the extent possible.

3.

Signal the accident location. Before stepping out of the car, put on your high-visibility jacket, which is compulsory, and place the emergency triangles correctly. The first must be placed about 50 metres behind the car in the direction of the traffic, and the second about 100m.

4.

If someone is seriously injured, never try to move them, except if in danger of fire or imminent explosion. Cover the injured person, keep them calm and wait for the emergency services to arrive.

5.

If the circumstances of the location allow, always fill in the European accident report, which is an essential document for speeding up the procedures and handling between the insurance companies.

If you have any doubt about how to do this, don’t hesitate to call your insurance company.

For more information, Call 902 123 104

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Friday, July 19, 2013

FRIENDLY HELP A CLICK AWAY Sometimes, just sometimes, my faith in humanity is restored.

Living in a foreign country is daunting. Learning the customs, traditions and bureaucracy is a long road and along with trying to grasp the language it can all, at times, become almost too much. However there is help at hand nearer than most people realise. In the old days people used to talk face to face if they had a problem, discussing things in the bar or local cafe, but the internet age now means that it is now a fantastic way of keeping everybody informed.

Advice on living in Spain is never more than a Google search away although some of the forums can be confusing and go off on tangents; a question can become a discussion far removed from the original query. One easier way to find out something is by going on Facebook. There is a fairly new page there that already has well over 1600 members and is constantly being added to with questions and answers. The page is called Expats in Spain and its founder Mike Scott says: “I started the page because I wanted a clean and clear forum for expats to ask pertinent questions about life and living in Spain. We have some very informed members who have been able to share their experiences to help other expats in making a new life in Spain.” There are many pages on Facebook and other sites which are all about helping yourself, selling things or promoting your business, but this one is advertising-free. It´s got nothing to sell and no one to try and convince it´s the best, with a sole purpose just to help everybody.

But how does it work? Well, it´s the easiest way I have found to ask for and give information. Firstly, you ask to be

added to the page by clicking on ´join group´ and then you can read through the posts and see if any of them are relevant to you and you can ask a question and wait for the multitude of replies. It is almost guaranteed that there will be more than one person who has had the same problem or concern as you and so there will be plenty of people giving good, first hand advice. The people who have joined this Facebook page give their advice freely simply because they want to help others. We all know how hard it is to make ourselves at home on foreign shores. We may be missing friends or family and none of us had a clue when we got here what we should or shouldn´t do. There are also useful points added regularly, from housing and driving issues to healthcare and whether your EHIC is valid.

For me at least, learning was trial and error. What would I have given eight years ago for a page like that? As it is, there are things I am still learning and I may need to ask a question in the future. Whether we´ve been here eight years or eight weeks, living in Spain is a constant learning curve and we are always trying to find out what to do or where to go. It´s comforting to know that even before someone moves here,

they can ask a question on this Facebook page where everyone has a name and, it is guaranteed a multitude of replies which should give the information or answers that they need. Looking through past posts, the respondents seem to all come up with the same answers with the occasional bit of extra information!

I have had my fair share of problems from ex pats living here, especially those who want to live in their own little bubble and don´t want to even understand those of us that aren´t like them. It has been therefore so refreshing to see that there are British people in a similar age bracket to me who have gone through the same things that I have, and who are the complete opposite to my neighbours. There are a lot of good people here in Spain, trying to understand, integrate and be a part of this great country. So, it is refreshing that there are folk here helping each other without bickering and arguing. I have never knowingly seen wrong advice posted on the site but because of the type of people that use it, if there was a mistake or something had changed, they’d write in a friendly way that the information given isn’t completely correct now.

These are the type of people that want to help rather than bicker or name call, and as such the site is always a delight to read.

So, if you are interested in how to get things done in Spain, you could do a lot worse than check out Mike´s Facebook page: ´Expats in Spain´, it´s the only ex-pat page with around 2000 members and growing daily, and see how, when we all work together, this great, beautiful country becomes a lot less stressful and even more enjoyable.

Friday, July 19, 2013

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NOTHING TO CROW ABOUT I clearly remember the train union leader Bob Crow making an appearance on the TV show, Have I Got News For You, a couple of years ago, as he lacked anything that remotely resembled a sense of humour.

He thought he was on Newsnight, as rather than joining in the fun, he was determined to make points on the battle of the working classes against the establishment.

Little seems to have changed for this dinosaur, as he popped up at last weekend’s Durham Miners Gala, making a call for the unions to ditch Labour and to set up their own party.

There’s bitterness in the call, as Crow’s RMT union was thrown out of Labour nine years ago for allowing branches to affiliate to other parties.

Meanwhile Ed Miliband made it two years in row by giving the Durham Gala a miss: - something which no Labour leader had done before in twenty years. The fact that Crow is insulting him must be music to his ears, as his very clever moves to show that he is not a union puppet continue to flourish.

Last week, Miliband got the praise of Tony Blair for saying that he was going to change Labour’s relationship with the trade unions, and that union members were not going to be

forced to automatically pay political levys to the Labour Party. All this came in the wake of a big stink in Falkirk, where the Unite union has been excused of fixing the choice of Labour’s candidate for the next general election. Unite is led by Miliband’s bogey man-in chief, and a favourite target for this column, Len McCluskey, who surprised everybody by saying that “he was comfortable” with Miliband’s changes.

With the exception of the RMT, who are not in the Labour

fold, the expected storm over the new relationship just didn’t happen, and Ed Miliband has played a blinder here, by showing that he’s his own man.

Crow, not for the first time, is out of touch and the Labour leader must be over the moon that his daft comments are ending up as pure PR gold dust for him.

An added bonus was a ringing endorsement from his brother David, now running an international New York-based charity. He called the move “great”, and in his TV interview with Andrew Marr, he seemed to be very happy with his new job.

So why have the Tories run away from plain packaging on cigarettes and minimal alcohol pricing? Surely they haven’t been squeezed on by vested interests? It must surely only be a coincidence that David Cameron’s elections adviser, Lynton Crosby, happens to have tobacco giant Philip Morris on his books. If the Tory chairman, Grant Shapps says it, then it has to be true. And this just follows on news from the mandarins of Whitehall, that plans for minimum alcohol pricing are going to be shelved, because of a lack of evidence that it will do any good. At least the Tories are allowing voters to smoke, drink, and be merry: - assuming anybody can afford it in the first place!

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Friday, July 19, 2013

RICHARD CAVENDER

Bluemoon Solutions www.bluemoonsolutions.es

BlueMoon Solutions is the computer and IT services company on the Costa Blanca, they provide quality computer services at realistic prices and specialise in working with home users and small businesses.

Richard moved to Spain seven years ago having left his management background behind in the UK and decided to use his IT skills to help home users and small businesses with their PC problems. Now a relaxed 'computer man' he is out and about in the Spanish sun every day, making house and shop calls and using his vast experience and qualifications to (usually) sort out the problem there and then. Computers are his hobby as well as his work so don’t be surprised to get an answer to your email in the early hours!

ADVICE: Chris was having issues with his Yahoo email ADVICE: Mark wanted to know if it was possible to take coming up in Spanish an entire copy of his laptops hard drive.

Q

Hi There. Hope you can find time to answer this query. For the past couple of weeks when I go to sign in to my yahoo mail it is all coming up in Spanish. My yahoo address is .co.uk and my web address is Google.ie so I am at a loss to know why this is happening. I have done full security scans and got the all clear and by the way my laptop is an Acer with windows 7. So I am hoping you may be able to tell me what the problem might be. Thank you so much.

A

Hi Chris, you can set your preferred language settings from within the options screen, just login to your email and then click on the “cog” icon in the top right hand of the screen and choose “account info” then choose “Set Language, site and time zone” and from here you can choose your default language.

Hope that helps.

ADVICE: Peter is not the first to struggle with the new email client at outlook.com

Q A

Richard, how does one group forward an email on Outlook? Is there a way of viewing your contacts, and click adding them, as you could on Hotmail?? If Outlook was supposed to be an improvement, they've failed!! Dismally!! Many thanks, Peter.

Hi Peter, you can forward an email on Outlook.Com by clicking on the little arrow next to the “reply” button.

In order to send a single email to a number of people you can either just select the people and place them in the “to” or “cc” or “bcc” field, if however you want to create a group so that you can send further emails to the same group of people then you should create a new group, you can do this by going into your contacts – now called “people” in outlook.com and clicking on the arrow next to “new”, you can then choose “group” and populate it with the people you want to be in that group.

You can find your contacts by clicking on the arrow next to “Outlook” in the top left of the screen and then selecting “people”.

You are not alone in struggling with the new version.

Don’t forget you can follow me on twitter @bluemoonspain Alternatively why don’t you sign up for my newsletter. You can do this by going to:www.bluemoonsolutions.es and fill in the form that is on any page except the front page.

Hello, I have wiped the hard drive using DBAN and restored back to factory default image using recovery discs, everything was restored except for the hidden recovery partition which now means that I have no means to restore the computer back to default settings without using recovery discs or a clean install every time. It also means that i have no way to create new recovery discs if my present ones become lost or damaged. I have an Acer Extensa 5235 and have been in touch with Acer but all they can do is sell me a set of recovery discs (at around 70 Euros!) that according to them may or may not restore the hidden partition. Is there any way you know of that would restore or completely reimage the hard drive including all hidden partitions? Any advice you can give will be appreciated. Thank you Mark

Q

Hi Mark, yes recovery disks can be expensive to buy can’t they!

Of course if you want to protect your recovery disks then you can always copy them to keep them safe, but as you suggest this means that you will need to rebuild your computer again from scratch if you needed to recover it.

I have used a piece of software called Acronis TrueImage a number of times and would recommend it to you. You can find out more at their website at www.acronis.co.uk but it will be cheaper than buying a recovery disk set from Acer and at the moment they have a 40% discount offer on!

Their software allows you to take a full image of your whole computer (to a set of DVD’s or an external drive or stick) and I highly recommend it.

Hope that helps?

A

ADVICE: James was having some problems with printing

Q

Hi Richard hope you are both well? I am having a problem printing from Outlook. I get my document from Open Office that I want to print I press print as normal a sign now comes up with " PDF Complete Document Creations Options" as a heading. I cannot find a way to print from this sign. Help Please. James Hi James, it sounds to me like you have some sort of PDF creator set as the default printer, you can change this by clicking start > control panel > hardware and sound > devices and printers and then in the printers section just right hand click your printer and select the option “set as default printer”.

This should sort out the problem.

A

office@bluemoonsolutions.es www.bluemoonsolutions.es Mobile: 655 044 970

Office: 902 906 200

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Friday, July 19, 2013

BBQ VEGGIE STYLE GRIDDLED GLAZED VEGETABLE KEBABS Ingredients

1 1 2 1 1 1 8 1

tbsp clear honey tsp grainy mustard tbsp oil courgette, thickly sliced small aubergine, cut into chunks small red onion, cut into wedges cherry tomatoes orange pepper, cut into chunks

Method

1. Soak 4 wooden skewers in water for 30 mins (this stops them burning.) Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Blend the honey, mustard and oil with seasoning.

2. To assemble, thread veg onto skewers and brush with glaze. Cook for 25-30 mins in the oven or on the barbecue, brushing with any remaining glaze before serving.

ROASTED FENNEL WITH TOMATOES, OLIVES & POTATOES Ingredients 500g new potatoes 3 large fennel bulbs 2 tbsp olive oil 250g cherry tomatoes, halved 50g small black olives

Method

1. Boil potatoes until tender, about 8 mins.

2. Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Halve and quarter the fennel through the root, then trim off the hard core. Slice the fennel and tip into a roasting tin with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss the fennel in the oil until it is glistening. Roast for 20-25 mins, until starting to soften.

3. Add tomatoes, olives and potatoes and stir well. Return to the oven for 10-15 mins until the fennel is tender, with a bit of crunch. Tip into a warm dish to serve.

CORN WITH CORIANDER BUTTER Ingredients 4 corn on the cobs 50g soft butter small bunch coriander, chopped small red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed

Method

1. Mash butter, coriander, chilli, garlic and a good pinch of salt with a fork. Place on a piece of cling film, form into a sausage shape, then freeze for 15 mins until hard.

2. Cook the corn in boiling salted water for 5 mins, until tender, then drain. Cut the butter into slices about 1cm thick, pop on top of the warm corn and allow to melt. Great with BBQ drumsticks.

GRIDDLED COURGETTES WITH PINE NUTS & FETA Ingredients 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 3 large courgettes, thickly sliced zest 1 lemon 100g feta cheese 3 tbsp pine nuts 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped small bunch mint, torn

Method

1. Brush a griddle pan with a little of the oil and place on a high heat, then griddle courgettes in batches for 2-3 mins on each side until charred and cooked through. Keep warm while you cook the rest.

2. Layer on a platter and sprinkle over the lemon zest, then top with the feta, pine nuts, chilli and mint. Drizzle over the rest of the oil and some seasoning. Serve warm or at room temperature.

STUFFED SWEET PEPPERS Ingredients 4 peppers, halved lengthways through the stalk and deseeded 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle 2 x 125g balls mozzarella, sliced 2 tbsp black olives, chopped 1 tbsp chopped oregano 2 garlic cloves, crushed

Method

1. Heat the barbecue or griddle pan to hot. Rub the outside of the peppers all over with the olive oil.

2. Stuff the peppers with the mozzarella, olives, oregano and garlic, and drizzle with a touch more olive oil, if you like.

3. Pop on the barbecue, stuffed-side up for 12-15 mins until the pepper is nicely charred (or roast in the oven at 220C/200C fan/gas 7 for the same amount of time).

CHUNKY BARBECUE POTATO SLICES Ingredients 4 large potatoes, unpeeled

a little olive oil few fresh rosemary sprigs, leaves stripped 2 garlic cloves, very finely sliced (optional)

Method

1. Slice the potatoes to the thickness of your little finger, discarding the rounded end pieces. Tip into a pan of cold salted water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 3 mins until just cooked, then drain. This can be done a day ahead.

2. Rub each slice with a little oil and barbecue until golden and charred on each side. Place in a dish and sprinkle with rosemary and garlic, if using. Drizzle with a little more olive oil, season with salt and serve.

CARROT & SESAME BURGERS Ingredients 750g carrots, peeled and grated 410g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 small onion, roughly chopped 2 tbsp tahini paste, plus 1 tsp to serve 1 tsp ground cumin 1 egg 3 tbsp olive oil 100g wholemeal breadcrumbs zest 1 lemon, plus 1 tsp juice 150ml pot natural yogurt 6 buns, rocket leaves, sliced red onion, sliced avocado and chilli sauce, to serve 3 tbsp sesame seeds

Method

1. Put a third of the grated carrot in a food processor with the chickpeas, onion, 2 tbsp tahini, cumin and egg. Whizz to a thick paste, then scrape into a large bowl. Heat 1 tbsp oil in your largest frying pan, tip in the remaining carrot and cook for 8-10 mins, stirring until the carrot is softened – it will become more golden as it is cooked. Add this cooked carrot to the whizzed paste with the breadcrumbs, lemon zest and sesame seeds. Add seasoning, then mix together well with your hands.

2. Divide the mixture into 6, then using wet hands shape into burgers. Cover and chill until serving. Mix the yogurt with the remaining tahini and lemon juice, then chill.

3. Fire up the barbecue, or heat a non-stick frying pan and brush the burgers with the remaining oil. Cook the burgers for 5 mins on each side, until golden and crisp. Meanwhile warm or toast the buns. When the burgers are ready, spread each bun with some of the lemony sesame yogurt, add the avocado, top with the burger, onion and rocket. Finish with a drizzle of chilli sauce

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Friday, July 19, 2013

Friday, July 19, 2013

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Friday, July 19, 2013

CHEQUE MATES! How Donna’s caring pals hit jackpot for Crohn’s research

When then Courier Editor Donna Gee began her sponsored diet in January, our Grumpy Old Gran’s target was to raise £500 for research into Crohn’s disease. Two of Donna’s granddaughters, Rosie and Daisy, suffer from Crohn’s, inflammation of the digestive system that in Daisy’s case required major surgery. Keen to help the cause, Donna’s friends at Sofia’s Bar in El Raso – led by Sofia’s owner Dee Williams and charity guru Susan Reader - organised a Fun Day and Charity Walk which, as you can see, raised an astonishing €1,409.18. This has been added to Donna’s donation page, which at the time of going to press

was showing a grand total of £1852.69 donated to CICRA, the Crohn’s In Children Research Association.

Says delighted Donna: “There I was, struggling like mad to get anywhere near the £500 I wanted to raise – and in come Sue, Dee and Co and blow the whole thing sky high! They have been magnificent and I am so, so grateful to them.’’

Details of the fundraising are at www.justgiving.com/donnagee Susan Reader is now masterminding another Charity Walk and Fun Day on Donna’s behalf in September to further raise awareness of Crohn’s. More details nearer the date.

APAH, the local animal rescue charity, is very proud of their Charity Shop in San Miguel de Salinas, but there’s one problem. They’re surprised by the fact that many people don’t know they are there! They’ve been in the town for nearly four years, but many of their customers stumble across the shop on Calle San Miguel by accident.

Back in April, APAH expanded the shop further to raise even more money to look after all the cats and dogs they care for. The changes have brought a positive response including a big paws up to a separate Ladies Department!

The APAH team would love to meet you with Calle

can be found on the far side of that, and you just look for the yellow sign, which says APAH Charity Shop. The opening hours are Monday to Saturday between 10am and 2pm.

DONNA’S BIG SURPRISE

The “Big Red Book” made famous by Eamonn Andrews on the classic TV show, “This is Your Life” was the inspiration for the latest production from the Campoverde Theatre Group.

“Grandma Mia-This is Your Life” was put on at the Blue Lagoon Community Centre, and mainly featured the songs of ABBA mixed in with the story of a lady called Donna who was celebrating her 65th birthday. The show created a birthday party atmosphere for the audience, as they followed her life as she moved from England to France and then to Greece, eventually ending up in Torrevieja!

Money raised from the performances went to the Torrevieja Alzheimer’s charity, AFA. The Theatre Group is now on a summer break before getting back together at the start of September to start rehearsals for their pantomime, Robinson Crusoe.

If you want to join the team, either on stage or back stage, phone Tony Kelly on 966 182 415.

Hot days and knights Los Montesinos hosts its annual summer Medieval Market in the town centre next weekend. The event runs between Friday July 26th and Sunday July 28th, based in the square outside the Town Hall.

Find us and say hello Len’s blistering trek

San Miguel being an extension to the main San Miguel high street. As the high street bends to the right to pass the front of the Church, you end up facing a pedestrianized section. The shop

Angels have faith in reachout Popular local band, The Faith, will be raising the decibel level in aid of the Torrevieja homeless charity Reachout next month.

The rockers will be part of a grand fun day at The Watering Hole bar in San Luis, Torrevieja on Saturday August 17th.

The fun has all been put together by

the Blue Angels bikers who have been supporting Reachout on a regular basis, and the entertainment will start from noon with the Radio Torrevieja Roadshow. There’ll be a fund-raising tombola and raffle, as well as a table top sale from 9am, with The Faith getting their guitars out at 8.30pm.

Sturdy feet and determination has helped Len Allen from La Marina raise close to 2 thousand Euros for the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre in Rojales.

The 59 year old decided to walk over 900 kilometres in Northern Spain on the famous pilgrimage known as “The Way” in aid of the charity. A bagful of sponsorship helped to keep Len going as

he only got 3 rain-free days during his 20 day trek along muddy paths through hills and mountains.

“It was one of the best experiences of my life”, said Len, “and my spirits were lifted when I hooked up with a delightful 69 year old Spanish lady for part of the walk!”

Seven blisters later plus a missing toe nail, in addition

BUSY GREEN

It’s fiesta time at Entre Naranjos and Laguna Green next weekend with fun and entertainment on Friday night (July 26th) and on the Saturday evening.

to losing 10 kilos in weight, Len says that he doesn’t plan a repeat performance in the near future.

“I have memories that will stay with me forever. The sense of achievement and the money I have raised for the Easy Horse Care Centre made it all worthwhile” Photo: David Feest, Len Allen, Sue and Rod Weeding

The Torrevieja Pipe Band, The Prospectors, and The Red Tops will be just some of the musical acts that will be performing during the weekend festivities that will be based at the Green area. There’ll also be a craft fair at the Civic Centre all day on the Friday.

Edition 4

OFFERS OF THE MONTH

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Friday, July 19, 2013

RE-REGISTERING CARS IN ANOTHER EU COUNTRY: Internal Market MEPs back new law

Making it easier to register a car in another EU member state could save €1.5 billion a year, said Internal Market Committee MEPs on Tuesday 9th July. They amended a draft law to set a 3-month deadline for re-registering a car in a new country and require EU member states to recognise each others' roadworthiness tests.

The European Commission's April 2012 proposal

to simplify the transfer of motor vehicles in EU estimated that it could save at almost €1.5 billion per year for businesses, citizens and registration authorities.

"My report tackles a key problem for European citizens wanting to take advantage of the single market.

The new regulation will enable them to reregister their vehicles with less administration

and lower costs", said rapporteur Toine Manders (ALDE, NL).

From three years after the law enters into force, member states should enable vehicle owners to apply online for re-registration, said the committee.

Single deadline The new law would give citizens three months to reregister their cars or motorbikes when they move their normal residence to a new EU member state.

No duplication of roadworthiness tests The law would also require member states to recognise each others' roadworthiness test certificates.

Further inspections could be made only if a vehicle was seriously damaged or there was a mismatch between the data given in the application and the vehicle register.

In addition, member states should have the option of requiring civil liability insurance as a precondition of vehicle registration, said MEPs. National or EU colour plates?

Citizens or businesses moving to another EU mem-

ber state, and in particular rental and leasing companies, would be able to choose whether to have number plates in national or EU colours (yellow characters against a blue background), provided this is consistent with national rules on the use of EU colours.

EUCARIS To ensure that simplifying car re-registration does not encourage cross-border car smuggling, MEPs backed provisions to step up cooperation among member states' vehicle registration authorities and enable them to access to each others' vehicle registers.

To this end, MEPs recommended expanding EUCARIS, the European car and driving license information system, which is already working in most member states.

Next steps The legislative resolution was approved by 34 votes in favour, none against and 3 abstentions. The committee will decide later whether to start informal negotiations with the Council on the amended draft regulation.

Germany faces action over Mercedes air con EU warns Germany a refusal to remove banned refrigerant from new Mercedes cars is breaching European rules Germany has been warned it faces possible action over Daimler’s refusal to remove a banned refrigerant from new MercedesBenz cars.

That’s according to a report in The Globe and Mail, which says the warning from the European Commission comes after France moved to block the sales of most Mercedes vehicles within its borders.

The EU has banned the use of the air-conditioning coolant R134a, but the premium car manufacturer is refusing to budge, increasing the tension between Europe and the German car industry.

A Commission spokesman, Carlo Corazza told Reuters: “[Brussels] may take necessary action including where appropriate infringement procedures [against Germany].”

According to Daimler, French authorities are blocking new registrations of the Mercedes-Benz SL, A-Class and B-Class which together, account for more than 50% of Mercedes sales in France.

The issue is that R134a is

150 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to global warming.

Daimler counters this argument by suggesting its replacement, Honeywell’s R1234yf, can emit toxic hydrogen fluoride gas when it burns.

The EU ‘mobile air conditioning’ directive 2006/40/EC took effect on January 1st, banning the use of R134a in models approved for sale since the beginning of 2011.

Other vehicles have until 2017 to comply with the regulations.

All the other European car makers have switched to the new Honeywell coolant, but Daimler is standing firm, a stance backed by Germany’s transport authority, KBA. In a statement, it said: “It can’t be ruled out that the new coolant…may endanger vehicle passengers and other road users.”

All you need is Elite

Elite Accident and Mechanical Repair Centre has over 35 years of experience in the Motor Trade. You can be assured that your vehicle or bike is in good hands whatever the problem may be. Having operated in Los Montesinos for over 5 years now, they have forged an excellent reputation locally for the high quality of service provided to all their clients. Elite specialise in car repairs which are carried out by fully qualified technicians. Pre-ITV checks are also available where a full vehicle inspection is carried out and any concerns are reported under two categories of either general concerns or ITV failure concerns. ITV fees also include the delivery and return of the vehicle to and from the designated ITV centre. Elite are also well known for all car paint repairs, from bumper scuffs and scratches to a full

car re-spray or colour change. Their spray painting environment is insurance approved, and they use only quality paints and materials when working on any vehicle.

All paintwork is professionally blended and then baked to ensure a first class finish, worthy of praise. A full Grua service is also available and covers all areas of the Costa Blanca. Elite Accident and Car Repair Centre can be found on the CV945 into Los Montesinos, on the road opposite the Repsol Garage and is open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday. So for all your motoring needs, including second hand engines and gear boxes to the supply and fitting of clutches, brakes and exhausts at very competitive prices call Elite today and receive the best advice and service possible.

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Friday, July 19, 2013

When Harley-Davidson met the Pope

LOTS OF brands are niche, but some make a mockery of the usual boundaries around their respective interest groups. HarleyDavidson is one of them.

June 2013 saw the American company start to celebrate its 110th anniversary with the first in a series of pan-global celebrations marking the occasion. The European one was a bit extra-special, though, because among 100,000 or so guests was none other than Pope Francis.

You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a lookalike or a clever bit of Photoshoppery, but no.

The Pope really did ride on a platform through hordes of leather-clad, often bearded bikers to bless them and thank them for their attendance at his Sunday Services.

That’s astonishing whichever way you look at it. To Catholics it’s even more amazing than the Queen’s show-stealing appearance as part of the Olympic Games opening ceremony, and to be honest to everyone else it’s still remarkable.

This is the HarleyDavidson brand; one of the

most iconic in the world.

You know Harley even if you don’t ride bikes yourself. You know all the stereotypes; the tattoos, the noise, the gangs, the leather jackets… but now you know that the Pope approves. Alright, so his holiness pretty much approves of everyone – it’s in his job description – but the juxtaposition of white cotton and black leather is brilliant.

The four-day event, of

which the Pope’s appearance was a memorable part, might have been a once-in-a-lifetime journey for some of the riders, who joined a throng riding from the port of Ostia under police escort through some of the most recognisable parts of Rome. The 2,000-year-old Coliseum bore witness to hundreds of thumping, thundering Vtwin engines on the route as the parade passed brand displays, cheering

fans and bemused but fascinated locals.

As part of the celebrations Ostia hosted a huge Harley party, with music, entertainment, bike displays and guided test rides around the local area. On a beach-front stage classic music from the likes of Mike and the Mechanics, Adam Ant and Bonnie Tyler set an atmosphere few will forget.

“Our promise to our customers is to offer them

once-in-a-lifetime experiences that few other brands can fulfil,” said Mark-Hans Richer, Chief Marketing Officer of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “Having our customers treated to the [Pope’s] blessing more than fulfils that promise of epic adventures.”

It has generated a huge amount of good will towards the company, having opened a few eyes to another side of Harley

ownership. That in itself has been a huge PR windfall. The attention that the festival has attracted is huge. It was, if nothing else, a fantastic chance to share and promote what’s great about Harley, not to endorse the same, tired old clichés about the riders.

Matthew Knott, PR and Communications Manager Harley-Davidson EMEA said: “The aim of our 110th anniversary celebrations in Rome was to thank and reward all of our loyal fans across Europe and the rest of the world to celebrate the adventure-loving, rebellious spirit of HarleyDavidson. It was fantastic to see thousands of fellow Harley-Davidson riders join us in Rome to celebrate this historic milestone.”

It’s not over yet, though.

Harley is saving its home gig until last. Judging by the amazing scenes in Rome in June, expect the finale at the company’s birthplace and hometown of Milwaukee, during the last weekend in August, to be something truly epic. If you just happen to have friends out there, it might be a good time to think about visiting…

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Friday, July 19, 2013

NEW PEUGEOT RCZ R GROWS SOME CLAWS Finally, the Peugeot RCZ gets some much needed attitude. The RCZ R is basically the RCZ taking the comments about it being a little 'soft' and 'just a poor man's Audi TT' and kicking them into the middle of next week. If this was an exercise in marketing straplines, we'd say the lion has finally grown some claws. But it's not, so we won't.

Like any self-respecting performance car, it made its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend.

We've got the lowdown on the most powerful road-going car in Peugeot's long history.

'Peugeot Sport' embossed sills help to raise the sense of occasion when entering the car, plus R-branded Nappa leather and black Alcantara sports seats help to carry the effect through. There's also a certification plate on the centre console and a smaller steering wheel.

What personalisation options are available on the Peugeot RCZ R?

The RCZ R is available in four colours - Moroccan Red, Nera Black, Mercury Grey and Opal White.

A number of custom made satin or gloss carbon roof treatments, decal designs and black mirror shells are also available.

What engine powers the Peugeot RCZ R?

Power is sourced from the quite brilliant, multiple awardwinning 1.6-litre THP turbocharged engine.

But whereas in the past, the RCZ has been limited to 200hp, the RCZ R has been let off the leash to deliver 260hp.

How fast is the Peugeot RCZ R?

The RCZ R will accelerate to 62mph in less than six seconds, before going on to reach an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

Its 243lb ft of torque also helps to accelerate from 50 to 70mph in just 6.8 seconds - in top (6th) gear.

What other performance upgrades can be found on the Peugeot RCZ R?

Naturally, the RCZ R's newfound bite isn't just down to the engine. The RCZ R cuts a leaner figure, shedding 17kg of weight, with rear downforce increased thanks to a new, fixed rear aero-spoiler - increasing stability at high speeds, without increasing drag.

The RCZ R is also treated to a wider track, wider rims, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 235/40 R19 tyres, larger brake discs, new dampers, stiffened springs and stiffer antiroll bar. We expect all the accusations of 'softness' to stop

How green is the Peugeot RCZ R?

with the RCZ R.

What has Peugeot done to the exterior of the RCZ R?

The suspension has been dropped by 10mm, giving the RCZ R a lower stance, with the 19-inch alloy wheels nicely filling the arches. The matt black roof arches are unique to the R, plus the eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed the reworked exhaust system.

Other 'tweaks' include the monogrammed R in red lettering on the grille and boot lid.

What has Peugeot done to the interior of the RCZ R?

One criticism of the RCZ has always been that the interior is too much like the Peugeot 308 it is based on. And while the RCZ R retains the basic architecture, there are a number of highlights which help the R to feel just that little bit more special.

Despite the additional power, the RCZ R still emits just 145g/km of CO2 and has the potential to offer 44.8mpg on a combined cycle.

Not that you'll see anything near this figure should you choose to push this thing to the limit. Which of course, you will.

When does the Peugeot RCZ R go on sale?

The Peugeot RCZ R made its international debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend.

A more formal reveal will take place at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, with sales starting in early 2014.

How much will the Peugeot RCZ cost?

Peugeot has yet to confirm the price of the RCZ R, but with the current RCR flagship - the Magnetic - costing £25,350, and the the rival Audi TTS costing £35,895, a price just under £35,000 would seem realistic.

On paper at least, the RCZ R looks like the car we've been waiting for. Stay tuned for a full review later in the year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INDIGO CAR HIRE!!

INDIGO CAR HIRE have recently celebrated their fourth birthday, a positive success story in difficult times for businesses.

After the sad demise of 1 car 1, two of their employees Matthew Carter and Cherie Walker (pictured here) decided not to let their considerable combined years of experience in renting cars to satisfied customers go to waste, and became directors of a new venture, Indigo Car Hire, Starting small with only two members of staff, Indigo now has 9 agents to help you with your car hire requirements. Lines are open 24 hours a day and you will always have a real person to talk to, as personal contact and customer service is what really sets Indigo apart from other car hire companies.

Indigo specialises in UK car hire, so they are the ideal people to contact when you are returning to the UK to avoid the hot Spanish summer, for work, special events, or to visit the family. However, they also offer the same good quality affordable car hire in Spain and

in fact all over the world.

Indigo are unique as they can tailor-make your car hire to find you the best deal for your particular needs. Some of the options they offer are free one-ways and additional drivers, deliveries to your place of choice, and best of all, you can be sure that the quote you are given is all-inclusive with no hidden extras. They can find rentals with no upper or lower age limit, and can organise a yearly excess insurance for you for only 38.99 pounds, well worth it if you are a regular renter. They can find car hire for you with a debit card rather than credit card, and they will always make sure you get the best deal for your particular needs.

For a free, all-inclusive and no-obligation quote, contact the reservations team on sales@indigocarhire.co.uk, visit the website on www.indigocarhire.co.uk, or ring 00 44 (0) 113 2899281 (ask for a call back). You can also find them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter to be kept up to date with the latest happenings in the world of car hire,

Friday, July 19, 2013

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THE WORLD'S FASTEST SHOPPING TROLLEY There aren’t many people who look at a shopping trolley and genuinely think, "How fast could I make that go?"

Matt McKeown is one such person. And he didn’t just think it – he actually followed up the idea, creating a jet-powered supermarket chariot to answer his own question.

You have to admire McKeown for welding a jet engine and a shopping trolley to a common chassis – it's a bold project.

The motor is the ‘APU’ slave starter engine for the main jet power units on a Chinook helicopter and came up on eBay, according to McKeown.

It produces around 150hp (yes, 150hp from a starter motor…), but the engine had to undergo some relatively significant re-engineering to make it work in the shopping trolley.

In the helicopter, the unit was never designed to produce thrust. Its brief was to turn a shaft that then helped start the main engines, so McKeown and his crew had to alter the jet to expel air as its propulsion method.

That meant adding a nozzle on the back of the engine to help increase thrust, while heavily revised fueling allowed it to achieve the power needed

to get the trolley to a wholly insane speed.

It runs at higher temperatures than in the helicopter, but that’s no issue according to the man behind the project.

McKeown reached a grand speed of 44mph aboard his shopping trolley at the Santa Pod Raceway drag strip in Bedfordshire.

That meant the machine unofficially set the world record for the fastest ever shopping trolley, even though the run was just a test to see how the outfit performed, according to McKeown.

The shopping trolley took just six hours to build from start to finish – an unbelievably short period given the complexity of the job.

Don’t think corners have been cut

though. McKeown owns Plymouth Karting, so knows a thing or two when it comes to small, lightweight rocket ships.

He says his engineer has done a fantastic job with the trolley and that it’s 'incredibly stable at speed.'

As we said, the 44mph run was just a test, finishing the quarter-mile in 34.893 seconds – the team didn’t even ignite the afterburner! Once it is lit though, McKeown reckons up to 70mph is possible, but that ultimately the team doesn’t really know how fast it could go.

'As fast as the engine will push it, I’m happy to stay on it', he outlined, adding, 'we know the wheels are good for 100mph…'

If you’ve pushed a shopping trolley round a supermarket before, you’ll know it doesn’t want to travel in a straight line – that’ll give you some idea of the level of engineering that’s gone into the project.

McKeown says he wants to get in touch with Guinness World Records to see how the team can make the record official, so watch this space for an even faster recorded speed…

10 Crazy Car Facts

1.Until 1973, whale oil was used in the transmissions of many cars.

2.Over the course of his/her lifetime, the average driver will swear roughly 32,000 times while driving.

3.The first speeding ticket was given out way back in 1904, and the driver was going 18 mph.

4.The longest traffic jam of all time occurred in 1980, between Paris and Lyon on the French AutoRoute. The jam stretched an astounding 175 km.

5.Sixteen per cent of car owners never wash their car.

6.Thrust SSC set a land speed record at 1,228 kilometres per hour in 1997. It is the fastest car ever built and the first land vehicle to break the sound barrier.

7.The world's most produced car is the Toyota Corolla.

More than 32 million units have been sold since its introduction in 1966.

8.The following materials are currently being used by researches to make fuel for cars, trucks, and even airplanes: sawdust, wood chips, nuts, and used diapers, bad batches of chocolate, cow waste, coffee grounds, and turkey guts.

9.Wheels on purpose-built mining dump trucks can be as large as 12 feet high, and one tire can range from €6,000 to an unbelievable six figures! The worst part is that, because these trucks carry such heavy loads over rough terrain, the tires wear down extremely quickly.

10.You will spend about two weeks of your life sitting at a red light.

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Friday, July 19, 2013

In Green Learning to SpainCarAdvances Development drive in Spain

As Spain does not have a Provisional Licence system, the only person who can teach you to drive is a registered driving instructor.

The information you need on how to apply for a driving licence in Spain: who is entitled, how to get the driving permit and how to renew it. Also the role of the driving instructor and taking the examination.

A Spanish driving licence (licencia de conducción) is the standard EU model: a plastic, credit card-sized permit with photograph.

Older licences are laminated pink cards with a photograph of the holder.

Legal Driving Ages and Main Permit Types • Permit AM for mopeds and vehicles for people with reduced mobility: 15 years (a moped driver may not carry a passenger until the age of 18) • Permit A1 (motorbikes with a maximum power of 11kW and an engine up to 125cc): 16 years • Permit A2 (motorbikes with a maximum power of 35kW a power-to-weight ratio of under 0.2kW/kg): 18 years • Permit A (all motorbikes, with at least two years experience driving motorbikes of category A1 vehicles): 20 years • Permit B (vehicles with a maximum weight of 3,500 Kg and with a maximum of 9 seats including the driver’s): 18 years • Permit C (vehicles with weight over 3,500 Kg): 21 years • Permit D (vehicles for the transport of passengers): 24 years The Spanish Driving Examination Applicants for a Spanish driving permit or licence must be resident in Spain.

Making the application The driving centre will take care of making the application and submitting the documents for driver’s exams. In some places the

exam may be taken in English.

Documents needed: • A certificate of mental and physical fitness issued by the Authorised Drivers Check Centre (Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores Autorizado) with one photo.

This certificate is valid for a period of 90 days • Application and application fee • Two passport-sized photographs (32 x 26 mm) • Photocopy (and original) of a Spanish residence permit (Residencia) or a copy of the passport along with the NIE number (Número de Identificación de Extranjer) • Proof of address in Spain dated within 3 months (empadronamiento) available from the local Town Hall • Signed self-declaration in writing that there is no legal process pending nor licence suspension that forbids the right to drive • Signed self-declaration in writing that no other licence of the same category is held Driving theory test There are two parts to the test, one theoretical and one practical. Both must be passed for a driver to be considered competent.

Driving test A set number of hours of training must be completed with a driving school. The practical test is taken in Spanish and a translator may accompany the person being examined. Some areas have English-speaking driving examiners – enquire if this is possible when first making an application to take the test.

The practical test is taken in a driving school (dual control) car and the driving instructor accompanies the examiner and person being tested. The examiner gives instructions in Spanish (or English if it’s been arranged in advance) to the driving student.

Spanish automaker SEAT continues to explore helping the development of green cars in its native country, not only recently hosting the closing event of a research project focused on introducing electric vehicles to this European nation, but also unveiling the Leon Verde, a plug-in hybrid with an electric driving only range of 50 km (31 miles).

The Leon Verde, according to SEAT, “is equipped with a 75 kW zero-emissions electric motor as well as a 1.4l 90 kW internal combustion engine with a 6-speed gearbox adapted and optimised for hybrid driving.” The vehicle’s electric drivetrain is powered by an 8.8 kWh Ficosa battery, and has an integrated advanced cooling system for the optimization of heat management. It is based upon the new SEAT Lion.

The vehicle, when connected to a local power grid, it can also feed electricity back into the network as needed. It is equipped with what’s described as advanced HMI (Human Machine Interface) systems integrated into a smartphone app which connects to the vehicle via NFC-CAN-Wifi to manage the main functions such as energy

consumption, battery status, reserve management for recharges or estimated savings in CO2, during electric mode. These systems have given rise to two patents.

Additionally, a special smart system has been developed that’s said to help improve the efficiency experience those behind the wheel. The system, in the form of a device, “predicts habitual routes and detects drivers’ mood-associated driving styles so as to optimise energy consumption and cut CO2 emissions.”

The project SEAT was taking part in, CENIT VERDE, spanned over four years.

It involved more than 800 professionals from 16 companies and 14 public bodies from different spheres that “joined forces to develop sustainable alternatives in automotive, infrastructures and energy.”

Through the resulting study, not only was the Leon Verde prototype developed, but also serious headway was made into various fields ranging from battery research, through recharge infrastructure and vehicle communication with the electricity grid, to vehicle integration into the electric system.

Bad Car Advertising: •Summer Fun - The roof leaks in winter •Easy Project Car - Completely disassembled, bring many boxes •Minor Rust - Major rust you can’t see •New Paint - Beautifully covers the rust •Fully Loaded - The seller is too •Only 59,000 Miles - Actually closer to 259,000 miles •Rare Model - One of 300,000 made •Family Owned - Driven by 6 teenagers, 2 gran parents and the family dog •Fully Restored - There's nothing original •Must Sell - Before it blows up •Well Maintained - I occasionally change the oil •Rare Classic - No one wanted it even when it was new •Ran When Stored - It won't start now •No Time To Restore It - Can't get hold of the parts •Low Miles - The speedometer was turned back

Plan PIVE 'scrapping' causes panic-buying of new cars NEW car sales have rocketed this month on the eve of the 'scrap for cash' scheme being axed.

The Plan PIVE allowed owners to trade in their old cars, over seven years of age or newer ones declared total losses, for scrap metal in exchange for a generous discount on the price of a brand-new vehicle.

This scheme gave the motor trade a massive boost across the country, with 34,000 cars bought straight off the forecourt in the first two weeks of July – an increase of 25.4 per cent on the same month in 2012.

Dealership and franchise associations GANVAM and Faconauto say deliveries of new cars to private individuals, rather than companies, topped 17,000 in the first fortnight of this month – some 45 per cent more than in the same period last year.

And car-hire firms bought 9,400 vehicles – 31 per cent more than in July 2012.

Large firms buying new vehicles as pool cars or company cars were among the minority, say the two groups, with fewer than 8,000 sold, or a nine-per-cent drop on last year's

figures.

GANVAM and Faconauto say these statistics are due to 'panic-buying' as owners with cars that have no saleable value as a driveable vehicle seek to capitalise on the last few days of the Plan PIVE. Until this Plan was launched, scrapyards paid far less for old or undriveable cars, and in most cases, the owner was forced to pay a fee for their vehicle to be picked up by the authorities and disposed of.

This has always led to a high number of abandoned cars in towns and on country roads, with many town councils cracking down by considering any vehicle that had been parked in a public space for a month or more to have been 'dumped' and the owner subject to a fine – and people who were unable to drive for long periods having to arrange for someone else to move their car periodically to avoid this.

But the Plan PIVE means car-owners can benefit from discounts of up to 3,000 euros for trading in their old vehicles as scrap.

The scheme is due for the chop at the end of July.

Friday, July 19, 2013

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Summer Car Driving Tips Whether you're driving in the UK or further afield this summer, we've got some top tips to help ensure a safe and comfortable trip.

Wherever you’re going: •Plan your journey to avoid getting lost or getting stuck in traffic jams •Take plenty of water and refreshments and take regular breaks •Take sun cream in case you break down, especially abroad •If you have children, take some games you can play in the car during the journey •Take extra supplies of medication, you may not be able to get them if you’re abroad •Have sufficient rest. Working long hours then driving is a recipe for disaster Car checks before you set off: •Check all wiper blades for wear or splitting, check the windscreen washer fluid level (Screen wash additive is also recommended) and check that the washer jets are adjusted correctly •Check oil and coolant levels following the instructions in the owners handbook •Check the electric cooling fan. Run the engine until it’s up to temperature and the cooling fan should cut in when the engine is hot •Have the cooling system checked - a leaking cooling system or inoperative cooling fan could cause the vehicle to overheat and cause extensive damage to the engine •Have the auxiliary belt (sometimes called the fan belt) checked on a regular basis by your local dealer/garage.

•Check the operation of all exterior lights to ensure they comply with any legal requirements, especially if you’re travelling to Europe •Check the condition of the Tyres, (inc. the spare) for correct pressures and legal tread depth. The current minimum legal tread depth for cars and light commercial vehicles (up to 3500 kg gvw') is 1.6mm •Ensure all dashboard warning lights operate correctly. If not, consult your owner's handbook or call your local dealer •Inspect the jack and wheel brace making sure they are in correct working order. If locking wheel nuts are fitted, ensure the locking key is safely stowed away in the vehicle. It may be useful to practice changing the spare wheel, following instructions from your owner's handbook

•Make sure you have a spare set of keys for your vehicle in a safe place •If you plan to take a caravan, check the tyre condition and the braking system •Never overload your vehicle or caravan beyond their designed carrying capacity We recommend that you carry these essentials in your car: •A first aid kit •A high quality torch. Preferably with long life and spare batteries •A warning triangle •A high visibility vest/jacket •A fire extinguisher •A spare fuel can •A light bulb kit •Additional engine oil and water (for topping up) •A first aid kit •An up to date road map or sat navigation system Driving abroad: The regulations of what you need to carry in your vehicle in other countries can differ from the UK. Here’s some popular European destinations driving guidelines.

France Essentials: You must be 18 or over to drive. You will need headlamp converters, a warning triangle and a reflective jacket in your car, with the reflective jacket being within reach inside the vehicle (not in the boot). The speed limit is 50kph in towns, 80100kph on open roads and 110-130kph on motorways. Beware: speeding could result in an on-the-spot fine.

Did you know? Driving regulations in France are changing. The most pressing difference to the UK? As of 1st July, it will be obligatory to carry a single-use breathalyser

Humans are a lot like cars.

No, seriously--in order to make us work, we need fuel. That fuel is our food, which we metabolize in order to function, and anything not required by the body we produce as waste. Sounds familiar, right?

Conveniently, that waste can then also be used to fuel our cars, albeit after a few more processes have taken place. That's what is happening in one Spanish town right now, where sewage from the town's residents is being used to produce a green biofuel.

While our bodies might be done with certain substances after we've used them in our body's chemical processes, bacteria in our dung (and the dung of other creatures, for that matter) can produce useful by-products such as methane, or to fertilize algae used to create biofuel.

The latter is what Spanish firm All-gas is doing in the town of Chiclana, Reuters reports.

A facility just outside the town uses the waste water and southern Spanish sunlight to grow algae, and then used to produce biofuel.

It's a small part of Spain's €15.7 million plans to research algae-based biofuel, in an

effort to pursue alternative energies and reduce the country's dependence on imported oil.

With Spain in the midst of record unemployment and huge budget deficits, the cost-effectiveness of the process is of high priority. Luckily, All-gas says its biofuel project is over €2.6 million cheaper to set up and run than a conventional sewage plant, and is gaining plenty of interest from several small towns in Spain.

At the moment, the small existing plant is still in early stages, having harvested its first algae crop last month. By 2015, the plant aims for 3 tons of annual production from 10 hectares of land, enough to fuel around 200 cars or 10 city garbage trucks per year. It won't be replacing regular petroleum products for some time then, but as a low-cost and low-carbon alternative to fuelling a city fleet on regular gasoline, it still has its place.

The plans are small at the moment, but with enough land and interest from other cities there's little to stop the project expanding further.

And the best thing is, local residents need do no more than remember to flush...

Spanish Town To Run Cars Human Poop...

in all motorised vehicles travelling in France.

The kit needs to comply with French regulations, so it must have an NF number on the kit. The law states that you must be able to produce an unused single-use breathalyser – so it would be wise to have two so that if you use one, you still have an unused one to produce. After 1st November, failure to carry one of these will result in an on-the-spot fine of €11.

Spain Essentials: You must be 18 or over to drive. Headlamp converters, one warning triangle for foreign-registered vehicles but two warning triangles for Spanish-registered vehicles, and a reflective jacket (which must be within reach inside the vehicle, not in the boot) are required. Additionally, if you wear glasses or contact lenses, you must carry a spare pair. Speed limits vary across Spain, so check the signposts. If you’re caught committing a driving offence, you’ll be given an on-the-spot fine.

Did you know? The drink driving limit is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood for most drivers – that’s less than the UK limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100 ml. However, beware of a crucial difference: for new driv-

ers, the limit is 10mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

Italy Essentials: You must be 18 or over.

Headlamp converters, warning triangle and a reflective jacket are required, and the jacket must be within reach inside the vehicle, (not in the boot). Speed limits vary across Italy, so check the signposts. Remember: police often monitor timings between toll points to check for speeding.

Did you know? As a country full of revered historical sites, cars can’t drive in many Italian cities without a short-term pass.

These no-drive zones are usually marked with signs saying ‘ZTL’. If you drive past one of these signs without a pass you’ll be given a fine.

Germany Essentials: You must be 18 or over to drive. You will require a warning triangle, headlamp converters and a first aid kit. If you’re involved in any kind of accident, it’s illegal to leave the scene without getting help or offering assistance. The speed limit is 50kph in built-up areas yet, surprisingly, there’s no official speed limit on motorways.

A top speed of around 130kph is recommended.

Did you know? If you’re under 21 or have held your licence for less than two years, you can’t drink alcohol at all before driving.

Also note that some cities have ‘green zones’ and you need a special badge before you can drive in them. You can buy these before you travel or in the cities where they are required.

Yes, there are lots of strange road rules out there – did you know you could be arrested in Russia just for driving a dirty car?

– but with a bit of research you won’t have to worry about a thing.

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Friday, July 19, 2013

HOW PETANCA GOT THE GREEN LIGHT AT EL RASO

WHEN the El Raso Bandits were founded during a boozy Christmas celebration at a local restaurant in 2011, captain Colin Whitfield’s petanca hopefuls were green both by name and nature.

They’d been among several dozen Brits playing the occasional game at El Alto La Dolores, just off the N332 between Guardamar and La Mata - and home of the popular Peacock Reds team. With petanca becoming an increasingly popular sport with expats, the Reds soon found their colours brightening with the instigation of the Peacock Blues, followed by the Whites and Greens. And when, in December 2011, Colin and others realised just how many team members were from El Raso, the Bandits were formed as the urbanisation’s very own team.

However, behind the sea of colour lay a tragic story…the shock collapse and death of Reds player Richard Norris just before a game at El Alto La Dolores in April 2011. His memory lives on in the form of the Richard Norris Memorial Trophy…and the keen interest of his widow Marjory, one of the Bandits’ most experienced players.

Ironically, Bandits captain Colin and his playing partner Anita Ludwig came close to winning this year’s Memorial Trophy, an achievement that brought memories flooding back of Richard’s great enthusiasm for petanca.

As Colin says: “Had Richard still been here, he would undoubtedly have been part of the Bandits revolution.’’

El Raso Bandits compete in Las Salinas Winter League’s fifth division. Like so many of Britain’s inexperienced expat retirees, their dream is to mount a serious challenge to the Belgian and Spanish players whose lifetime experience of the game gives them a huge advantage.

Back row, from left: Harry Teasdale, Wendy Cannon, Anne James, Lyn Bell, Pauline Teasdale, Colin Whitfield, Patricia Lynn. Front row: Arthur James. Eric Bell, Marie Whitfield, Keith Cannon, Marjory Norris. Inset: The late Richard Norris.

The Bandits’ mascot is called Mario after the owner of El Raso restaurant, where the team was christened).

DOG…LICIOUS!

Four tons of dog food that was set to go to waste in the UK, is now feeding hungry dogs here in Spain.

The San Fulgencio based-charity, Pets in Spain, got a message from Mark Jenkins of FISH4DOGS who asked whether they’d be interested in having the company’s food that had reached the UK sell-by date. The answer was a very quick yes, and so the task of getting it shipped over swung into action.

After making a Facebook appeal, Pets in Spain got support from Dropbox2Spain in Javea, who arranged and sponsored the transportation from Britain. Irwin Removals in Dolores agreed to receive the food pallets

PICTURE by JUNE SUTTON

and to store them ahead of distribution to dog shelters across the country.

Any dog rescue charity or group can ask for some of the food by calling Pets In Spain on 645 469 253. To become an animal rescue volunteer or to make a donation to the charity, E-mail info@petsinspain.com or visit the web site www.petsinspain.com Photo: On top of the world, and two pallets of the dog food, is Pets In Spain president Yvonne Lewis.

Front row left to right; Richard Williams of Irwins Removals, Mark Lewis of Pets In Spain with puppy Sophie, and Jordan Gavaghan of Dropbox2spain.

ART-BREAK HOTEL

Nigel’s choral workshop celebrates six of the best

THEY won’t exactly be eating meals with a tuning fork, but participants in the 6th Annual International West End Choral Workshop at Hotel Cabo Cervera in La Mata may well be singing for their supper.

The course runs from Monday August 5 to Saturday August 10 and offers help in almost every aspect of singing. This includes warmup procedures, voice production, breathing techniques, sight-reading hints and performance procedures.

Sessions are from 10am - 1pm every day, with a concert at the hotel at 8pm on the Saturday night to show families, friends and others what has been achieved during the week.

The course has again been masterminded by top singing guru Nigel Hopkins, who will also hold a midweek soloists' Master Class where any course member can present a solo song and receive helpful comments and hints on how to improve his or her performance.

“This feature has always been a popular part of the course,’’ says Nigel, who adds: “In general, singers of any standard can join the Workshop as lots of help is available from someone who has been at the top of his profession for over 30 years.’’

Prospective candidates should email nigelhopkins@hotmail.co.uk or telephone 966 775 976 for further details. All are welcome.

Magical photo tour MAGNETIC

ATTRACTION

Pop music fans who love photos are in for a treat for the next few weeks as some iconic pictures featuring The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix are put on display in San Pedro del Pinatar.

Pop photographer Bill Zygmant, dubbed “a legend behind the lens”, has a special exhibition starting today (Friday), which runs until the end of August. A friend of the Beatles during their heyday in London, Bill has a suite named after him in the famous “Hard Day’s Night” Hotel in Liverpool, where several of his iconic works are displayed. Famous for capturing the first public shot of John Lennon and Yoko Ono together, Bill will be exhibiting his pictures of great figures from the the 60s and 70s for the next six weeks. You will also have the chance to buy some signed prints with the proceeds going to the San Pedro Red Cross.

Bill Zygmant “Iconic Imagery” runs until Friday August30th at the Centre of Touristic Initiatives (CIT), Avenida de las Salinas (near San Pedro Health Centre), San Pedro del Pinatar. The opening times are weekdays 9am to 2pm; Saturday 10am to 2pm, and Sunday 10.30am to 2pm.

Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, 10.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It’s ten not out for Magnets:- a summer children’s holiday club set up in La Siesta, Torrevieja back in 2004, and the doors are opening up again this Thursday July 25th.

Magnets was the brainchild of Steve and Irene-Maria Campbell, and their first summer saw eleven youngsters coming through their doors. The project soon outgrew their apartment, and now they use the La Siesta Evangelical church as their base.

Over 170 children have had fun with Magnets, with many returning on an annual basis before they get too old! There’s a different theme each year, and not surprisingly 2012 featured the Olympics, with every youngster getting a gold medal. This time round, the Magnets team will feature Joseph’s Adventures in Egypt.

The two hour weekly get together starts at 10.30am this coming Thursday and runs every Thursday until August 22nd. Children from 4 years upwards are welcome to come and join the fun, and one of the best parts is that it is free of charge.

If you want to find out more or need directions to La Siesta Church please contact Steve or Irene-Maria by phoning 680 257 344 or E-Mail sjmimc@yahoo.com

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Friday, July 19, 2013

LIAR LEANNE DOES WOMEN NO FAVOURS

I want you to meet Leanne Black - this attractive 32year-old woman is every man's worst nightmare. She's also the enemy of every woman who has been raped and who fears she will not be believed.

Because this charmer accused five former boyfriends of molesting her - accusing them of raping her, seeking revenge for dumping her. This went on for an astounding eight years. Each time, after a row, she would invent a rape allegation - perhaps inventing she had been kidnapped, or that she had been drugged and raped. Each time the men have been arrested and have had to go through all the anguish of being accused of such an appalling crime, and facing a five-year jail term if convicted. Unbelievably, this wretched woman has been let off jail until now, when finally she has been sent down for two years. No doubt soft-touch judges felt sorry for her - clearly she had mental problems and probably they felt she should be helped rather than punished. Wrong call. She will be let out in one year on licence, so men beware again then! Quite rightly, the judge, in sentencing her, said these cases made it far more difficult for genuine rape victims to be believed. Statistics show that false allegations make up as little as 0.6 per cent of all reports of rape to the police. At the same time, only around 15 per cent of the 85,000 women raped in England and Wales every year ever report the crime to the police. The Rape Crisis movement say a major factor in their reluctance to report is the fear of not being believed. Women like Black do all women no favours, as well as being a nightmare for men.

free parking places in municipal car parks, saving them bags of money every time they park. That's been stopped, and now councillors will see, by being hit in their own pockets, how they have been screwing motorists - and damaging town centre trade at the same time. Another is heavily subsidised or free meals. B.....y councillors.

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IT could only happen in Britain - the top story on the BBC website last Thursday was the discovery of a kitten on an underground train. All manner of important stories were doing the rounds, but in soppy Britain it was a fourmonth-old kitten on a train that had most people exercising their mouse.

And here's another which could only happen in Britain that someone would actually complain about the 'U' film certificate for the iconic film The Railway Children. Some twit complained that the film could encourage kids to trespass on the railway. What did I write last week? That the UK was a nation of moaners and complainers.

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The true nature of some British trade unions...exposed!

The real relationship between unions and Labour...exposed! The consequences of out-of-control pay awards for the rich...exposed!

We've had a riveting two weeks in British politics which all started with the news that the largest union, Unite, had been trying to manipulate the choosing of Labour candidates, particularly that in Falkirk where there is to be a by-election (to replace a Labour MP disgraced for brawling in a Commons bar).

Now Labour leader Ed Miliband wants to end the cosy arrangement of affiliated unions automatically sending part of union members' subscriptions to the Labour party. This has prompted fury among trade unionists that do not support Labour and have discovered that some of their cash has been going to a political party to which they are opposed. It's also prompted fury among some trade union leaders who can see control of their political poodle slipping from them.

The true politics of some trade union leaders are also now well and truly exposed - from what they have been saying, it's clear they would be far more at home within the Communist Party. But that's a non-starter in Britain with the 'C' word being as much a no-go as the BNP. Thanks to union support and manipulation, there are Labour MPs who are communists in disguise. Tories have thought it was their birthday with Labour in such disarray. But they're far from saints, with so much of their money coming from a few extremely rich people and companies with vested interests.

Labour may come to regret trying to keep the unions at arm’s length, for without their money it’s hard to understand how they can fund an election.

Now for the pay awards for the rich. That is exposed

through the independent pay body's recommendation that MPs should be awarded a 12% pay rise after 2015. Firstly, I wouldn't mind betting that members of this governmentappointed "independent" body is composed of the same silver spoon brigade and just as completely out of touch with Mr Average as those comprising many boards of British companies. They have studied the salary and "perks" of other people in comparable jobs and have concluded that MPs' salaries are falling short. Yes, I have no doubt that MPs' salaries don't compare with company directors and the like sitting in their boardrooms awarding themselves doublefigure pay rises year after year, and plotting at the same time to keep the wage bill and ordinary workers' pay as low as possible. Here, wonderfully exposed, is the result of the widening gap between the rich and poor in Britain, and it's partly caused through the two party political system, Labour and Tory, rich and poor, haves and have-nots. Perhaps a breath of fresh air in politics, like the arrival of UKIP, might be what's needed to put an end to it. Let's hope at election time the voters have a big dose of common sense. Final word on this subject - if an MP cannot manage and live very comfortably on the present £67,000pa - well over double the average person's pay - then he's not fit to manage the running of the country.

A related story to all this caught my eye. UKIP won seats in several county councils in England and have been discovering all sorts of cosy arrangements for councillors which cost tax payers money.

One of the worst is in one council where councillors have for a BBQ meal and the entertainment. These are available from the Restaurant as well as The Post Room, Benijofar and The Card Benijofar Crisis Appeal which helps Place, Benimar. The phone number provide essential groceries and is 692 866 536 school books for struggling families A coach service will be available from the following pick-up points: in Benijofar.

Restaurante El Alto La Dolores is BP Garage, Benimar; Memorial situated on a slip road leading off Statue near Quesada Golf Course; the N332 at the roundabout immedi- JD Country Club, Quesada and The ately before the Montesenos turn off Arches in Quesada. Cost is just 5 euros. For further information and when approaching from Torrevieja.

Tickets are priced at just 10 euros to book a place call 650 655 413

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BUDDY’S BACK!

Rock and Roll will be very much King for Benijofar’s needy at a special gig next Wednesday night (July 24th). Woody and the Peckers will be back for another big fund raising night at the Restaurante El Alton La Dolores, with their popular Buddy Holly tribute show.

All profits from the ticket sales and raffle will be going directly to The

I HAVE no doubt that every taxpayer in Britain would have been shocked and furious that the security firm G4S (the company involved in the lack of staffing at the Olympics fiasco) has been criticised in the Commons for allegedly overcharging many millions of pounds for the tagging of offenders. MPs heard it was thought the company had been charging for the tagging of criminals who were in fact in jail, who had moved abroad, or, incredibly, who had died. It’s either incompetence or downright fraud. If criminality is proved here then draconian fines should be imposed, designed to seriously damage the profitability of the company (this company made a pre-tax profit of £516m last year), as well the directors being put into jail. A combination of incompetence by government and local government allowing over-charging, and greedy companies only too willing to take advantage and overcharge, bordering on criminality, if not full-frontal criminality, has gone on for far too long. A company fined so heavily it bankrupts it, is, perhaps, long overdue.

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Now let's look at the goings on within the Post Office.

Up and down the country there are sub-post offices run within newsagents and grocery stores, etc. and the takings of these are monitored by a Post Office computer. There is the temptation that if the profitability of the grocery part of the business fails, the owner will "subsidise" it by the post office takings, running into debt which mounts out of control. That is what the Post Office has accused many of doing, forcing them to pay back the money when the computer says the owner is in debt. Now, it seems, the computer is not all its made out to be and there were "bugs in the system". Sadly, some sub postmasters and mistresses have been thrown into debt, some have lost their homes, others have lost their jobs, some have been prosecuted and some have been sent to jail. One 60-year-old with 40-years’ service in the Post Office, spent his birthday in jail. Around 100 sub-postmasters are contesting the amount of debt highlighted by the computer. If these people have lost their homes, livelihoods and liberty because the Post Office put too much faith in a machine which made wrong calculations, then I hope judges will award masses of compensation to properly compensate them and, just as importantly, again to teach big business a lesson.

Free nosh for the kids Hungry music-loving youngsters are in for a treat with a Rock and Roast event in aid of the Elche Children’s Home at Torre de la Horadada.

They’ll be able to enjoy the hog roast free of charge whilst their parents will have to cough up 8 Euros each, a

week tomorrow (Saturday July 27th).

Debbie Slater will provide the entertainment at Camping Lo Monte with the event running between 2pm and 6pm.

The top prize in the raffle will be an all-inclusive weekend for 4 in a luxury bungalow at Camping Lo Monte.

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Horrorscopes Aries March 21 - April 19 Incitement is not a word you want to be hearing today, so avoid any particularly aggressive behaviour. Opportunity is waiting round every corner. All you've got to do is catch up with him, put him in a big box and beat him with big sticks. You're doing really well, keep it up! One man cannot make himself into an army of super-strength midgets.

No matter what his budget.

Taurus April 20 - May 20 As accurate as the weather report might be, you must be careful to avoid the 3011 bus. Good fortune will stalk you like a mean spirited vulture today and won't spread any of his juicy fortune charm over you. Your ideals are starting to shape the way you're living, so congratulations. The feeling you have inside will be thrown into sharp relief when your bowel is emptied.

Gemini May 21 - June 20 "Deliver us from evil" they said. Perhaps this week would be a good time to start living as though this were possible. The stars indicate that walking under ladders is a bad idea for you this month. Blimey, you ain't harf as wot you used to, ain't it? Today might be a good day to walk around with your arms stretched forwards in a "mummy" style.

Cancer June 21 - July 22 Laugh and the world laughs at you. Or at least, it'll seem like that this week.

Drunken idiots are usually a good way of entertaining yourself whilst you're waiting for public transport. Hopefully the pains you're currently experiencing will disappear over the coming hours. Itching may be a sign of bad things to come. Watch out for overweight dogs when it's raining.

By Pandora Leo July 23 - August 22 Brown is your unlucky colour for today.

Avoid it whereever possible. Chunks of meat will plague you today...or give you the plague. The mystics are being terribly vague on this one. The stars predict rocky times for you and a loved one. Avoid making love in cramped places. Many of your hang-ups would disappear if you started wearing clothes that more suited you.

Virgo August 23 - September 22 There might not be a tomorrow, but all indications point to yes Take everything you've got and run like the wind. Bad things are afoot. I mean, can't you smell it? Although you have been getting gradually more and more tired over the last few days, you'll find new energy this weekend.

Libra September 23 - October 22 Your brain is overflowing with ideas, some of which are truly brilliant and you must focus on making your dreams a reality. See how clever you can be today by attempting to count your lose change inside your pocket WITHOUT taking your hand or the money out. Just because people laugh at you doesn't make you a comedian.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 Wake up, wash your face, change your pants. Life needs a good "start" routine, make this YOURS. Controlling your situation may become more difficult than you imagine when you're strapped down inside a barrel. Flashing lights and fireworks are a sign of good hope for you today.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 Every reason you have for doing what you did, is sound. Be grateful that you have a good network of friends and family. Many of the people around you will turn out to be lying scheming scumbags, this week.

Although your faults are easy enough to see, you must really make an effort today to let people truly understand the depth of your problems.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19 Clutching your heart and complaining that your arm hurts is quite a mean thing to do when trapped in a lift for 2 hours.

Seek advice from someone older today in order to avoid making a fool of yourself.

Don't trust little birdies, they're renounded liars. Always think "Take the easy way out". You won't go wrong.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18 Don't be embarrassed by your actions today, embrace your flamboyant side. Do you have any idea what you're letting yourself in for? Boy, I'm sure glad I'm not you. The gift you have that allows you to speak to the animals will today be unveiled as a fraud. Walk without shoes for a day and you will soon understand the nature of the soul. Geddit!

Pisces February 19 - March 20 Destiny is more like a buzz-word than something you'll ever have to think about.

Time is on your side, feel free to mix-it-up a little. Parts of you feel like giving up the ghost today, but feeding those parts with ice-cream and bacon bits may revive them, to an extent. You can't go wrong today - everything is set up for brilliance.

Friday, July 19, 2013

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CHOOSING THE RIGHT Bad Hair Day? ANTI-AGING CREAM Turn It Into a Good From the moment we are born, our bodies begin to age. Just as with a new car, we'll begin subjecting ourselves to wear and tear, and for a while, this wearing and tearing won't change our physical appearance. But one day the changes will begin. At first, they'll be slight and barely noticeable and then, bam -- we look old! That's when it'll be time to hit the anti-aging creams.

Before you run out to the store understand one thing: no cream so far has been created to stop or reverse the aging process. Creams can only mask the signs of aging. So steer clear of anti-aging products that make unreasonable and unproven claims. Don't shrug this off because plenty of these products exist, especially on the Internet.

Next, eliminate the products not formulated for your skin type. If you have dry skin, don't choose products made

for "normal" skin. You also should know by now the types of ingredients that trigger adverse reactions in your skin so don't choose anti-aging creams that contain these ingredients. These two steps will remove quite a few anti-aging creams from the candidate pool, narrowing your choices significantly.

But there probably still are a mindboggling number of products left to

choose from. Now you can do one of two things. You can choose an antiaging cream from a product line you're familiar with. That will likely be a pretty safe choice. Or, you can let your budget help you decide which anti-aging product to choose. You'll be surprised at just how expensive even the smallest containers of anti-aging creams are.

Choosing the right anti-aging cream can be a tricky and expensive undertaking. Following the above tips can help with your decision. But there is one more thing you should know: you may be able to stall this purchase by keeping your skin adequately protected from the sun's damaging rays.

Sunscreen is really the best anti-aging cream that's been invented!

Before you run out to the store understand one thing: no cream so far has been created to stop or reverse the aging process.

GO FOR DAIRY DAILY

Eating three servings of fat-free or low-fat dairy products is one of the best things you can do for your bones and belly. It protects against heart disease, too. And, if

you like yoghurt, emerging research suggests that healthy bacteria in fermented dairy products may act as protective, anti-infection agents. Increased yoghurt

consumptions might even help raise your resistance to immune-related disease.

There is good evidence for the beneficial effect of yoghurt in maintaining cer-

tain aspects of gastrointestinal health, and there is some preliminary evidence for colon cancer.

Check the label to make sure that the brand you choose contains live and active cultures to ensure that you’re getting all the benefits of healthy bacteria

SURPRISING SOURCES OF TOXIC CHEMICALS AROUND YOU DR MACHI MANNU’S ADVICE CLINIC Email your questions and comments to contact@medb.es

You are probably aware of the harmful effects of chemical toxins – industrial wastes, car exhaust fumes, pesticides etc. - and will go out of your way to stay clear of such danger. However you may be eating, drinking or breathing in deadly toxins unknowingly every day. And every year, labs around the world churn out thousands of brand new chemicals designed to industry specifications, but the sad truth is that most of these chemicals are never tested for human safety before they are added to our foods, drugs and beauty products. Even when some of these chemicals are clinically studied and found to be harmful to health, they are never withdrawn from the market. Parabens are a typical example. Parabens are a class of chemicals added to cosmetic products to extend their shelf life, but they are known to cause breast cancer. SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) is another toxic cosmetic additive which has also been linked to cancer and still added to prod-

ucts. It is a foaming agent, and so used to manufacture shower gels, shampoos and facial cleansers. The alarming problem with SLS is that it reacts with other chemicals in cosmetic and beauty products to form deadly carcinogens called nitrates. Luckily people are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of SLS and Parabens and actively seek alternatives that are free of them. But these are not the only harmful chemicals out there, and cosmetics are not the only source of contaminants. You may be surprised to learn that the inside of tinned or canned foods is lined with a plastic coating that contains the chemical BPA (Bisphenol A). This chemical is known to leach out of the plastic coating, into whatever food contained in the can. A recent study done on 20 different brands of canned foods showed that BPA leaked out of the plastic lining in over half the cans.

BPA has been linked to many worrisome and debilitating illnesses including

heart disease, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and even behavioural problems in children. A recent study at the Yale school of medicine linked BPA to memory problems and brain aging. If you fly frequently, you are likely to have high levels of a chemical called PBDE (Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether). The interior of airplanes are drenched in this chemical.

National Geographic recently had one of their reporters tested for PBDEs as part of an investigation into chemical contamination. They were shocked to find that the reporter, a frequent flyer, had incredibly high levels of PBDE, which would have been considered abnormal for someone working in the factory. PBDE is a flame retardant commonly added to just about everything; cushions, mattresses, sofas, carpets, computer and television casings and many other household items. A few years ago 2 types of PBDE were banned in the EU after they were found to concen-

trate dangerously in human tissues. Cars are also notorious sources of chemical toxins. Car dashboards are typically made of toxic chemicals called Phthalates.

These Phthalates make plastic soft and malleable.

The problem is that phthalates leaks out of old and brittle plastics, like the dashboard of old cars. Phthalates interferes with testosterone production; lowering blood levels of this hormone, and leading to problems such as reduced muscle mass and a low sex drive. Prescription drugs are also a serious source of chemical toxins for people over 60, especially when they are taking 3 or more medications, resulting in a cocktail effect that enhances the strength of combined drugs. To scan your body for toxins, and to find out what you can do about them, call Dr Machi Mannu: 965071745 FOR A FULL BODY DIAGNOSTIC SCAN, CALL 965071745

Hair Day

We all have them and nobody likes to have a bad hair day — literally speaking. When your hair looks and feels unmanageable, most of the time you want to scream. But, taking proper care of your locks will ensure you have good, and even great hair days coming your way.

Because your hair is so prominent, people notice it.

Hiding a bad hair day is not as easy as disguising a flabby tummy or a big butt. Therefore, you need to ensure your hair is always well looked after and in good condition. Yes, it can be done. Here's how: Good hair starts with clean hair. Depending on the condition of your hair, you may need to wash it every day. If you are lucky you can get away without washing it for two days, sometimes even three. Never allow your hair to stay dirty for longer than that.

People will notice it looking greasy.

Invest in the right type of shampoo and conditioner.

Don't just throw any old product on your hair. Rather get one that is customized to your hair's unique needs. You can speak to your hairdresser about the type of shampoo or conditioner that will benefit your hair the most. Hairdressers will often recommend salon quality products. If you can afford them, rather splash out on the extra bit. These products are often formulated with stronger ingredients, which mean you use fewer products in the end, so they do not work out to be that much more expensive.

Blow-dry your hair. Although blow-drying your hair can dry it out, using products that work with heat will allow you to blow-dry your hair without damaging it.

By blow-drying your hair, you avoid it from getting stringy too soon. If you have fine hair, blow-drying it will allow the hair to appear fuller, than simply letting it dry naturally.

Book regular hair appointments. This point is very important. Even if you don't want to 'style' your hair or change the style, you should still book an appointment with your hairstylist at least every six weeks.

Trimming off the tatty ends will keep your hair in a better condition, plus it will look healthier, stronger and like you're having a good hair day, every day.

27

Friday, July 19, 2013

LIVER NEEDS A GOOD FLUSH OUT Q

I am 57 years old, and for many years I have had problems with my digestion and skin. My digestive problems are stomach rumbling, acid burns and diarrhoea or constipation and sensitivity to many different foods. I was diagnosed with asthma 4 years ago, but I don’t have frequent attacks, and I’ve noticed my skin problems which are mainly rashes worsen when I have asthma. Over the years, I have seen many specialists and have had many tests – endoscopies, colonoscopies, blood tests – and other than occasional anaemia or infection, nothing has been found. I have tried many different therapies both alternative and orthodox and have not felt much relief from them. I will appreciate your insight into my health problems.

A

I have carried out diagnostic scans on people suffering from symptoms similar to yours, and have found; high intolerance to chemicals that cause allergies, and an overload of the liver with toxic chemicals especially mycotoxins from moulds, heavy metals, and pesticides. You may be suffering from a similar condition since your investigations have been found clear of any abnormalities. In cases of toxic overload, the liver becomes overwhelmed with contaminants or toxins.

These can be from what we eat, drink or put on our skin. The liver breaks down these chemicals through a pathway that requires several thousand chemical processes to work efficiently. However some people may be lacking some of the enzymes required for this process to run smoothly. Not long ago, human beings would have been able to cope quite well with this deficiency, but the world is different place today. It is laden with chemicals and we all have to battle to survive.

When the liver fails to process toxins effectively, they are stored in our fat cells and in our bones. For example lead, a toxic heavy metal, is stored in our bones when the liver is overloaded. But many women suffer from a loss of bone density

after menopause, causing the toxic lead to leach into the blood, leading to a host of health problems. Lead also raises blood pressure by constricting arteries, and it is well known that removing toxic lead from the blood stream can cure hypertension. The toxins stored in fat cells when the liver is overloaded with toxins slowly seeps into the blood stream, causing our organs to be inflamed. When the respiratory organs are inflamed, the resulting symptoms may include cough, asthma or bronchitis. Inflammation of the digestive system may cause dysbacteriosis – a condition that results from an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the stomach. This imbalance usually causes the abdominal symptoms you describe such as rumbling stomach and acid reflux. The stomach contains over 500 different species of microbes coexisting in a delicate balance.

Any number of factors will affect this balance: antibiotic prescriptions, mineral deficiencies, poor diet, and the presence of toxins in the gastric glands. I believe your health will improve a lot after a detox with Pectasol. Pectasol is an oral chelator of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and aluminium.

Q

I am a 62 year old diabetic man, and I’ve had great trouble controlling my sugar levels in the past years.

I was diagnosed diabetic 20 years ago and placed on Metformin, 1 tablet a day. But over the years, my blood sugar level has mostly been erratic, and I’ve had to first increase my medication dose, and then add on insulin injections. Even with insulin my blood sugar levels are still mostly high. I am worried because lately I’ve been having pins and needles, and from what I know that’s not a good sign. What can I do?

A

Anyone suffering from diabetes must understand that maintaining a healthy diet is the most vital aspect of therapy. The sad truth is that even doctors are confused about a healthy diet for diabetics. Foods high in refined carbohydrates spike blood sugar levels in diabetics and should be avoided.

What Is Caffeine?

Caffeine (also caffein) is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that is a psychoactive stimulant drug. Caffeine was discovered by a German chemist, Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, in 1820. He coined the term kaffein, a chemical compound in coffee (the German word for which is Kaffee), which in English became caffeine (and changed to Koffein in German).

Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the beans, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants. It is most commonly consumed by humans in infusions extracted from the bean of the coffee plant and the leaves of the tea bush, as well as from various foods and drinks containing products derived from the kola nut. Other sources include yerba mate, guarana berries, and the Yaupon Holly.

Caffeine is the world’s most popular ‘drug’. Many of us can’t get going in the morning without a cup of coffee! Caffeine undoubtedly gives us a buzz — it’s a

stimulant that perks us up and makes us more alert. It can also boost our exercise performance, and could reduce the risk of some neu-

rological diseases.

But there’s a darker side to caffeine. It can cause headaches, migraines, heart palpitations, sleep problems, problems in pregnancy, anxiety and shakiness. It also reduces the amount of iron we absorb from food, and increases the amount of calcium lost from the body.

You should cut down on your caffeine intake if you’re consuming more than four cups of coffee’s worth of caffeine a day.

Complex carbohydrates are healthy for diabetics, except for the kind found in wheat called amylopectin. Amylopectin is different because unlike the other kinds of complex carbs, it begins digestion in the mouth and not the stomach. This is the reason why 2 slices of whole grain bread will raise your blood sugar levels higher than 6 teaspoons of sugar. You should also understand what the Glycaemic index or GI of food means, and know what foods to avoid. You can find charts on GI online or from various health centres and clinics around. Glycaemic index is a measure of how high blood sugar levels rise after eating different types of foods. Glucose has the highest GI of 100. Refined carbohydrates such as wheat, corn, potato and manioc flour have high GI numbers, and should be avoided by diabetics. Foods rich in fibre such as nuts and vegetables have a lower GI rating and should make up most of the diet of diabetics. These foods slowly release sugar into the blood, and that way insulin is also gradually secreted into the body to properly regulate sugar levels. Most processed drinks contain high fructose corn syrup that spikes blood sugar levels, and should also be avoided. Diabetics are also low in chromium, and this has led some researchers to even suggest that type 2 diabetes is an age-related chromium deficiency disease.

Chromium is needed to make a protein known to enhance the function of insulin. Chromium is found in foods such as vegetables, honey and condiments such as black pepper and thyme, but you will be better off taking supplements to ensure that you are getting appropriate amounts. The pins and needles are a sign of diabetic complications as you have pointed out. You can prevent diabetic complications that can affect the eyes, kidneys and small arteries of the hands and feet by taking supplements called R-lipoic acid.

PLEASE EMAIL contact@medb.es

YOUR

QUESTIONS

TO:

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28

Friday, July 19, 2013

CODE CRACKER Code Cracker is a crossword puzzle with no clues; instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle. All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number. In this week’s puzzle, 2 represents J and 4 represents Y, when these letters have been entered throughout the puzzle, you should have enough information to start guessing words and discovering other letters.

QUICKIE

Across

Down

1 Quick-witted (5) 4 Flashy, ostentatious jewellery (5) 8 Blood-red (7) 9 Stop (5) 10 Bird of prey (5) 11 Have doubts about (7) 12 Scarce (6) 14 Means of entry (6) 18 Bewilder (7) 20 Untidy (5) 22 Catalogues (5) 23 Appease (7) 24 Following (5) 25 Looks for (5)

1 Triumph (7) 2 Growing old (5) 3 Own (7) 4 Expel (6) 5 Peruvian Indian people (5) 6 Seductive stare at another person (4,3) 7 Hit (4) 13 Memory loss (7) 15 Navigational instrument (7) 16 Timidity (7) 17 Sudden outburst of anger (6) 18 Name (4) 19 Overturn (5) 21 Frighten (5)

Last weeks Solution

Across: 1 Perhaps, 5 Sever, 8 Dossier, 9 Earns, 10 Extra, 11 Wishing, 12 Busted, 14 Odious, 17 Shampoo, 19 April, 22 Evict, 23 Cheapen, 24 Honey, 25 Residue.

Down: 1 Padre, 2 Reset, 3 Agitate, 4 Scrawl, 5 Steps, 6 Vertigo, 7 Resigns, 12 Beseech, 13 Station, 15 Drawers, 16 Concur, 18 Petty, 20 Rapid, 21 Lunge.

Scribble Pad

DOUBLE CROSS-WORD Solve the Double Cross-Word puzzle using either the standard or cryptic clues, the answers are exactly the same.

CRYTPIC CLUES Across 7 Because of having put a buzzer outside previously (6) 8 Gold God gives writer (6) 9 Cabbage is an ingredient of cock-a-leekie soup (4) 10 Locked up in a strange, treed inn (8) 11 Some tennis pros perceptively thrive (7) 13 One keeping quiet in bed could be you or I (5) 15 Foremost Russian mountain range in the country (5) 17 Weigh in avoirdupois on scales and you will find toxins (7) 20 Long Island's British ruler ate free (8) 21 Poem right to describe a European river (4) 22 Why the beginner can't get a grip? (6) 23 Ancient key set in a precious metal (3-3)

Down 1 Fix up extremely remarkable couple (6) 2 Done in the shape of a lump (4) 3 Explained why there's a bit of fish in the act (7) 4 North American swine's home is revolting (5) 5 Space travellers lose their heads and supply drugs (8) 6 Church leader, you found, is a sailor-man (6) 12 Adam provided cut of meat (5,3) 14 To place wild animal (7) 16 There's harmony when a skinhead joins a worker's organisation (6) 18 Require pupil to point to badger (6) 19 Trainee soldier from America detained (5) 21 Frank writer is after love at Wimbledon (4)

Down STANDARD CLUES 1 Fix (6) Across 7 Earlier (6) 2 Knot (4) 8 Writer (6) 3 Explained (7) 9 Curly-leafed cabbage (4) 4 Unpleasant (5) 10 Confined (8) 5 Controversial compounds 11 Flourish (7) (8) 13 Two-footed (5) 6 Cartoon sailor (6) 15 In the country (5) 12 Piece of pork (5,3) 17 Poisonous substances 14 Skunk (7) (7) 16 Harmony (6) 20 Set free (8) 18 Sewing kit item (6) 21 European river (4) 19 Military trainee (5) 22 Beginner (6) 21 Not closed (4) 23 Ancient (3-3) Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Nicks, 4 Salon, 8 Terrier, 9 Gored, 10 Choir, 11 Pistols, 12 Suburb, 14 Damson, 18 Ignoble, 20 Yacht, 22 Alien, 23 Bumpier, 24 Stole, 25 Libel.

Down: 1 Notices, 2 Cargo, 3 Stirrer, 4 Scraps, 5 Lagos, 6 Nervous, 7 Ides, 13 Bandits, 15 Abysmal, 16 Natural, 17 Feeble, 18 Iran, 19 Bingo, 21 Climb.

FILL IT IN

Complete the crossword grid by using the given words:

3 letter words Are Car Chi Ire Man Pan Rat Tao Too Urn 4 letter words Acre Arts Atop Beep

Crab Dote Eery Elan Else Fame Ires Lira Maul Menu Nest Oats Ogee Omen Open Pane Puma Pupa

Rail Rare Sane Scud Sect Smog Swum Tide Unto Weal 5 letter words Ached Await Blast Carbo Cosec Crone

Dodos Ember Error Odour Pinto Recto Riels Sepia Setae Sonar Spode Tweed 6 letter words Acetic Coated Crisis Ragged

Siphon Smarts 7 letter words Alcopop Apropos Ariadne Derange Eatable Fedoras Glottis Mustang Panoply Titanic 8 letter words Demerara Roadhogs

SPANISH-ENGLISH CROSSWORD Improve your Spanish - clues in Spanish, answers in English or vice versa.

Across 1 Bolsas (para llevar algo) (4) 4 Brown (6) 9 Remolque (de camión) (7) 10 Letter (of alphabet) (5) 11 Trozo (pedazo) (5) 12 Más temprano (7) 13 To tear up (6) 15 Padre (6) 18 Traición (7) 20 Lights (5) 22 Between (5) 23 Tattoo (7) 24 Tinsel (6) 25 Arena (tierra) (4)

Down 2 Despierto (no dormido) (5) 3 Single (unmarried) (f) (7) 4 Tuesday (6) 5 Regla (para trazar líneas) (5) 6 Avestruz (7) 7 Hermanastro (sin vínculo sanguíneo) (11) 8 Peluquero (11) 14 Refugio (sitio) (7) 16 Athletes (7) 17 Useless (person) (6) 19 Oveja (5) 21 Cadena (de eslabones, de joyería) (5)

29

Friday, July 19, 2013 Across 1 Which word completes the title of a 1982 UK Top 20 hit single by the English punk rock band the Clash: Rock the [What]? (6) 4 What name is often applied to people who possess, or appear to possess, extra-sensory abilities such as precognition, clairvoyance and telepathy, or who appear to be susceptible to paranormal or supernatural influence? (8) 9 Noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, what was the surname of the English flag officer, famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars? (6) 10 A pluviometer (also known as an udometer or an ombromete) is used by meteorologists and hydrologists to gather and measure what?

(8) 12 What was the name of the tiger who was the cartoon mascot for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes? (4) 13 Which adjective means ‘disagreeable to the senses,

to the mind or feelings’? (10) 15 What name is normally given to an instruction written by a medical practitioner that authorises a patient to be issued with a medicine or treatment? (12) 18 What is the title of the BBC Radio 4 music quiz programme that has been hosted by Ned Sherrin (1986– 2006), Edward Seckerson (2007) and Paul Gambaccini (2008-2013)? (12) 21 What name is given to houses founded by charity, offering accommodation for the poor, sick or elderly of a parish? (10) 22 Which American television series that originally ran 1982 to 1987 followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts? (4) 24 What name is often applied to a nuclear weapon in which enormous energy is released by nuclear fission?

(4-4) 25 The television chefs Dave Myers and Si King are collectively known as the Hairy [What]? (6) 26 The shooting dead of Al

SUDOKU (Hard)

Quiz Word

Capone’s rival gang members and their associates in Chicago on February 14, 1929 is often referred to as the Saint Valentine’s Day

[What]? (8) 27 What name for a pause or break in continuity in a sequence or activity comes from the Latin for ‘gaping’?

(6)

Down 1 Erected in 1919 for the Allied Victory Parade, which monument that stands in Whitehall, was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens? (8) 2 Which device fixed to the exhaust of a motor vehicle to reduce engine noise shares its name with a device used to reduce the sound of a gun as it is fired? (8) 3 What surname is shared

by American pianist and singer-songwriter Tori and English stand-up comedian Stephen K? (4) 5 Which infectious streptococcal fever is usually marked by a sore throat, sickness and a red rash?

(7,5) 6 Which variety of small, round melon has an orange flesh and ribbed skin? (10) 7 Which major Hebrew prophet of Judah in the eighth century BC, taught the supremacy of the God of Israel and emphasised the moral demands on worshippers? (6) 8 Which verb means both ‘propose a toast to’ and ‘recognise with a gesture

prescribed by a military regulation’? (6) 11 What name is often applied to a period of unusually dry, warm weather occurring in late autumn? (6,6) 14 What name is given to an extreme or irrational fear of heights? (10) 16 What name for a conducting wire or thread with a high melting point, forming part of an electric bulb or thermionic valve and heated or made incandescent by an electric current, comes from the Latin for ‘thread’? (8) 17 What name is applied to people who do not believe in the existence of God or gods? (8) 19 Which highly flammable sticky jelly used in incendiary bombs and flame-throwers, consists of petrol thickened with special soaps? (6) 20 Which verb means to ‘mark, mould or decorate a surface with a raised design or symbol’? (6) 23 Which flightless New Zealand bird with hair-like feathers has a long downcurved bill with sensitive nostrils at the tip? (4)

SALLY’S SIMPLE SPANISH

NOCHES DE VERANO – SUMMER NIGHTS

Match these words with their Spanish translations then find them in the wordsearch.

(Answers below)

geography QUIZ

ANSEWRS: 1. The Atlas Mountains 2. Krona 3. Turkey 4.

Bartolomeu Dias 5. Spain & Portugal 6. the library of congress 7. The Equator 8. Blue 9. Denver 10. everglades national park 11. Boston 12. Libya (Libyan Arab Republic) 13. The English Channel 14. "Tangier, Morocco"

Last Week’s Solutions Code Cracker Last weeks Quiz Word Solution Across: 1 Uttar Pradesh, 9 Tel Aviv, 10 Garbage, 11 Marseille, 12 Creel, 13 Speaker, 15 Hot dog, 18 Canapé, 20 Compere, 24 Apron, 25 Miserable, 27 Ocarina, 28 Embryos, 29 Treasure Hunt.

Down: 1 Ultimo, 2 Tyler, 3 Riviera, 4 Revolver, 5 Dagger, 6 Sirocco, 7 Lavender, 8 Geology, 14 Pancreas, 16 Ecuador, 17 Cousteau, 19 Pannier, 21 Parable, 22 Impala, 23 Bedsit, 26 Bayou.

la resaca

divertirse

la sangría

el aire libre

las estrellas

el concierto

ligar

el mojito

música en vivo

ir de marcha

ropa ligera

la discoteca

salir de copas

la luna

trasnochar

Empareja estas palabras - Match the Spanish and English words You will find the answers at the bottom of the quiz.

1.bailar, 2.divertirse, 3.el aire

15.salir de copas, 16.trasnochar.

l.the open air, m.the moon,

libre, 4.el concierto, 5.el mojito,

a.to have fun, b.the hangover,

n.to go out for a drink,

6.ir de marcha, 7.la discoteca,

c.the sangría, d.the mojito,

o.to go out to party,

8.la luna, 9.la resaca,

e.to dance, f.to have

p.to pull (a date).

10.la sangría, 11.las estrellas,

a late night, g.live music,

12.ligar, 13.música en vivo,

h.the concert, i.the stars,

14.ropa ligera,

j.light clothes, k.the disco,

Soduko

Span - Eng

Quizword

Answers: 1e, 2a, 3l, 4h, 5d, 6o, 7k, 8m, 9b, 10c, 11i, 12p, 13g, 14j, 15n, 16f.

1. "Which Mountain Range Spans Northern Morocco , Algeria & Tunisia"?

2. Before The Euro What Was The Currency Of Sweden?

3. Where would you find the Meander River?

4. Who Accidently Sailed Around The Cape Of Good Hope In 1488?

5. Which 2 Countries Occupy The Iberian Peninsular?

6. What building built in 1897 contains 327 miles of bookshelves?

7. "Apart from water, what runs through the mouth of the River Amazon and Lake Victoria? "?

8. What color is the leftmost stripe on the French flag?

9. Which US state capital is known as the (mile high city) because of its elevation above sea level?

10. What US national park contains gumbo limbo trail?

11. What city does Beacon Hill light?

12. LAR is the international vehicle registration of which country?

13. what does the river seine empty into?

14. where do tangerines live?

bailar

Fill It In

30

Friday, July 19, 2013

TRELI ON THE TELLY with ALEX TRELINSKI Sci-fi yarn Falling Skies, with ex-ER star Noah Wyle, is a pleasant enough mid-summer diversion on the FOX UK channel, as it bounced back for series three this week.

As opposed to other shows that stretch paperthin plots over 20 weeks, Falling Skies just sticks to a 10-week run, and is already

SKIES DON’T FALL IN ON NOAH

booked for a new series next year. The special effects are good as Wyle leads a bunch of red-blooded Yanks fighting some nasty aliens that are trashing planet Earth. How much of a real input executive producer, Steven Spielberg has had on this I don’t know, but

best, and that is part of the enduring success of University Challenge, which returned for a new run on BBC 2 on Monday, after 51 years of asking a “starter for ten”. Tell me as well that you are anxiously waiting each week for that predictable moment when quizmaster Jeremy Paxman snaps The simplest quiz for- “come on” to a team that is mats are always the dawdling on giving an answer! Jeremy’s good, but I still preferred the very laid back approach of Bamber Gascoigne.

I’m sure he gets his cut from the big bucks earned by the show being screened in 80 countries. Wyle is like a slightly tougher version of Dr. John Carter on ER, but he is an engaging lead, and it’s a lot better than enduring Big Brother on Channel Five!

q

q

We sadly seem to be losing too many TV icons at the moment. In recent months we’ve said goodbye to Patrick Moore and Richard Briers, and now we have lost the pioneering Alan Whicker. In the same way that David Attenborough opened up the world of nature into our

living rooms, Whicker brought us an incredible range of people and stories from around the planet. As a journalist, he was never afraid to ask a direct question, and his films were required viewing. That was especially true in this early days when air travel was a luxury for most of us, as he brought us closer to all kinds of eccentrics in exotic locations that we could only dream about.

q

I now realise what the regular sneering expressions of professional revenge-maker, David Platt, on Coronation Street remind me of. It’s a cross between Muttley the dog on Wacky Races, and the evil smile of the great JR Ewing on Dallas I can only presume that’s what actor Jack Shepherd based his gurning

on!

q

Sky Sports have pulled an ace out of the pack by getting ex-England captain, Andrew Strauss to join their Ashes commentary team. Once he got over his nerves and started to relax, he offered some great insights into an England dressing room that he knows well. It also helped that the first Test at Trent Bridge was an absolute corker! And as a cricket fan, I thoroughly enjoyed the Aussie mini-series on BBC4 about Kerry Packer’s battle in the seventies with the dreadfully dated cricket authorities. Though the mogul was first and foremost interested in getting TV rights, there’s no doubting that what he did changed the sport for the better.

The Courier Friday TV

July 19

01:20 Golf: The Open Championship 00:25 This Week

02:05 This World

01:10 Holiday Weatherview

03:05 Israel: Facing the Future

01:15 BBC News

04:05 This Is BBC Two

07:00 Breakfast

05:00 Schools - Play On!

10:15 Heir Hunters

05:30 Schools - Play On!

11:00 Homes Under the Hammer

06:00 Found

12:00 The Specials

06:15 My Cookery

12:30 Escape to the Country

06:30 The Little Promise

13:15 Bargain Hunt

06:45 Ungu's Dress

14:00 BBC News; Weather

07:00 Homes Under the Hammer

14:30 Regional News and Weather

08:00 The Specials

14:45 Land Girls

08:30 Bargain Hunt

15:30 Only Fools and Horses

09:15 Don't Get Done, Get Dom

16:30 Perfection

10:00 Live Golf: The Open

17:15 Flog It!

Championship

18:15 Pointless

21:00 Celebrity Mastermind

19:00 BBC News

21:30 Gardeners' World

19:30 Weather

22:00 Natural World

20:00 The One Show: Best of

23:00 QI

Britain

23:30 Newsnight

20:30 Nigel Slater's Dish of the Day 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Sherlock 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Would I Lie to You?

00:20 A Race Against Time: Hilary Lister's Round Britain Dream

00:35 The Cube 01:30 Jackpot247 04:00 Tonight 04:25 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV Meridian Weather 15:00 The Hungry Sailors 16:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Harbour Lives 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Doc Martin 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV News Meridian 23:35 Gladiator

GLADIATOR Oscar-winning period epic starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. Rome, the second century AD: dying emperor Marcus Aurelius chooses the city's beloved general, Maximus Decimus Meridius, as his successor - a decision that results in a bitter power struggle with Aurelius's son Commodus, who sentences Maximus and his family to death. The general escapes, but he and Commodus are destined to meet again.

01:00 Princess Diana's Dresses: The Auction 02:00 Terror in the Skies 02:55 Dispatches 03:25 Food Unwrapped 03:55 Wild Things 04:30 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 05:25 Deal or No Deal 06:20 Kirstie's Vintage Gems 06:25 Countdown 07:10 The Hoobs 08:05 Hugh's 3 Good Things 08:15 According to Jim 08:40 Will & Grace 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:35 Frasier 11:00 Frasier 11:30 Frasier 12:00 The Secret Millionaire USA 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 Grand Designs Australia 14:05 Johnny Guitar 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Brendan's Magical Mystery Tour 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Ramadan Diaries 21:00 Four Rooms 22:00 The Million Pound Drop Live 23:35 PhoneShop

00:00 Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 SuperCasino 05:00 HouseBusters 05:25 House Doctor 05:45 House Doctor 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:35 Michaela's Wild Challenge 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Rupert Bear 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:35 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Milkshake! Monkey 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Emergency Bikers 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:20 The Mentalist 16:15 Deadly Sibling Rivalry 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Cricket: The Ashes 21:00 World's Busiest 22:00 Big Brother 23:30 Big Brother's Bit on the Side

31

The Courier Saturday TV

July 20

07:35 Wagon Train 08:35 The Big Street

00:05 Pramface

10:00 A History of Scotland

01:05 Severance

11:00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites

02:35 Weatherview

12:30 What to Eat Now

02:40 BBC News

13:00 The A to Z of TV Cooking

07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Live Golf: The Open

13:45 University Challenge 14:15 EastEnders

Championship 13:00 BBC News; Regional News

16:10 Wild Shepherdess with Kate Humble

and Weather 13:10 Live Golf: The Open

17:10 Flog It! 18:10 Escape to the Country

Championship 19:10 BBC News; Regional News

19:10 Live Golf: The Open Championship

and Weather 19:30 Raiders of the Lost Ark 21:20 The National Lottery: In It to

20:40 Dad's Army 21:10 David Starkey's Music and Monarchy

Win It

22:10 Top of the Lake

22:10 Casualty 23:00 Mrs Brown's Boys 23:30 National Lottery Update

23:10 QI XL 23:55 Strawberry Fields

23:50 Face/Off

02:20 Jackpot247 04:00 Columbo: Now You See Him 05:15 ITV Nightscreen 07:00 Jake and the Neverland Pirates 07:25 Poppy Cat 07:50 Canimals 08:10 Bookaboo 08:20 Kick Buttowski - Suburban Daredevil 08:35 The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes!

09:00 Gravity Falls 09:25 ITV News 09:30 Dinner Date 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 11:15 Murder, She Wrote" 12:15 Saturday Farm 13:15 ITV News and Weather 13:24 ITV Meridian Weather 13:25 All Star Mr & Mrs 14:25 The Chase 15:25 All Star Family Fortunes 16:10 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:15 ITV News and Weather 19:30 You've Been Framed!

20:00 You've Been Framed!

20:30 Your Face Sounds Familiar 21:45 All Star Family Fortunes 22:45 The Americans 23:45 ITV News and Weather 23:59 ITV Meridian Weather

00:10 00:40 01:10 02:40 03:00 03:20 03:45 03:55 04:05 04:25 05:20 06:15 07:00 07:10 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:10 13:00 13:30 14:30 17:10 19:45 20:15 20:20 21:20 23:00

PhoneShop Trojan Donkey The Million Pound Drop Live New Girl The Mindy Project Accidentally on Purpose Mesh Dish Momma's Boy Phil Spencer: Secret Agent Deal or No Deal Countdown The Treacle People The Hoobs Caterham Motorsports The Morning Line Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Simpsons Undercover Boss Canada Channel 4 Racing Come Dine with Me Channel 4 News Ramadan Diaries Grand Designs The Million Pound Drop Live The American

THE AMERICAN

00:00 Weather 00:05 T in the Park 02:05 Golf: The Open

Thriller starring George Clooney. After an assignment in Sweden nearly goes wrong, professional assassin Jack flees to Italy to lie low. He starts to consider retirement, but must complete one last job.

Championship 02:50 This Is BBC Two 07:00 This Is BBC Two

00:30 Big Brother 01:00 SuperCasino 04:55 Motorsport Mundial 05:25 House Doctor 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 07:00 Peppa Pig 07:05 Roary the Racing Car 07:15 Fifi and the Flowertots 07:25 Bubble Guppies 07:40 The Mr Men Show 07:50 Chloe's Closet 08:05 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:10 Bananas in Pyjamas 08:25 Noddy in Toyland 08:35 City of Friends 08:50 Milkshake! Show Songs 08:55 Little Princess 09:05 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:25 Angelina Ballerina 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 Toby's Travelling Circus 10:30 Roary the Racing Car 10:45 Jelly Jamm 11:00 Power Rangers Samurai 11:35 Batman: The Brave and the Bold 11:55 Inside Hollywood 12:05 Big Brother 13:30 The Hotel Inspector Returns 14:30 Cowboy Traders 15:30 CSI: NY 16:25 CSI: NY 17:15 CSI: NY 18:15 Jesse Stone: Sea Change 19:55 5 News Weekend 20:00 Cricket: The Ashes 21:00 NCIS 21:55 NCIS 22:50 5 News Weekend 23:00 Big Brother

The Courier Sunday TV

July 21

07:05 This Is BBC Two 08:05 Split Second 02:00 Hooper 03:35 Weatherview 03:40 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 Sunday Morning Live 12:00 Live Golf: The Open Championship 13:30 BBC News 13:30 Weather for the Week Ahead 13:40 Live Golf: The Open Championship 20:00 Celebrity Mastermind 20:30 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 21:00 Countryfile 22:00 The White Queen 23:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather

09:30 Monty Don's French Gardens 10:30 Gardeners' World 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:30 Raymond Blanc: How to Cook Well 13:00 Easy Virtue 14:30 The Way We Were 16:25 Coast 16:55 Escape to the Country 17:55 Songs of Praise 18:30 Natural World 19:30 Indian Ocean with Simon Reeve 20:30 Wild Cameramen at Work 21:00 Top Gear 22:00 The Secret Life of Uri Geller 23:00 Live MotoGP

00:00 Fearless 01:50 Jackpot247 04:00 In Plain Sight 04:40 ITV Nightscreen 07:00 Jake and the Neverland Pirates 07:25 Poppy Cat 07:50 Canimals 08:10 Bookaboo 08:20 Kick Buttowski - Suburban Daredevil 08:35 The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes!

09:00 Sonny with a Chance 09:25 ITV News 09:30 Country House Sunday 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 11:20 Murder, She Wrote 12:20 ITV News and Weather 12:29 ITV Meridian Weather 12:30 Columbo 14:30 Love Your Garden 15:30 Dragnet 17:25 A Touch of Frost 19:30 ITV Meridian Weather 19:45 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars 21:00 All Star Mr & Mrs 22:00 Law & Order: UK 23:00 ITV News and Weather 23:14 ITV Meridian Weather 23:15 The Talent Show Story

THE FOURTH KIND

23:25 Nick and Margaret: We All Pay Your Benefits

01:20 Golf: The Open Championship 02:05 Repo Chick 03:45 This Is BBC Two

Sci-fi thriller starring Milla Jovovich. A large number of unexplained disappearances in an Alaskan town prompt a psychiatrist to investigate what she believes to be alien abductions.

01:00 02:35 03:00 03:10 03:15 05:25 06:20 06:35 07:00 07:10 08:05 08:30 08:55 09:30 10:30 13:30 14:25 15:30 17:30 18:35 Cloud 20:25 20:55 21:00 22:00 23:00

Carriers Britain's Oldest Stand-Up The Fishmonger Mesh Hollyoaks Deal or No Deal SuperScrimpers Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard The Treacle People The Hoobs Ironman 2013 Triathlon Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Sunday Brunch The Big Bang Theory The Simpsons Jungle 2 Jungle Deal or No Deal Death & Life of Charlie St Channel 4 News Ramadan Diaries The Plane That Saved Britain The Returned The Fourth Kind

00:00 Big Brother's Bit on the Psych 01:00 SuperCasino 05:00 Nick's Quest 05:25 Make It Big 05:50 Roary the Racing Car 06:00 Angels of Jarm 06:10 Hana's Helpline 06:20 Angels of Jarm 06:25 The Funky Valley Show 06:40 Roary the Racing Car 06:50 Hana's Helpline 07:00 Peppa Pig 07:05 Roary the Racing Car 07:15 Fifi and the Flowertots 07:25 Bubble Guppies 07:40 The Mr Men Show 07:50 Chloe's Closet 08:00 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:10 Bananas in Pyjamas 08:25 Noddy in Toyland 08:35 Milkshake! Monkey 08:40 City of Friends 08:50 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 08:55 Little Princess 09:10 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:25 Angelina Ballerina 09:40 Milkshake! Show Songs 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 Toby's Travelling Circus 10:30 Roary the Racing Car 10:45 Jelly Jamm 11:00 Power Rangers Samurai 11:35 Batman 12:00 Inside Hollywood 12:05 Big Brother 13:00 Big Brother's Bit on the Side 14:00 Mermaids 16:05 Michael 18:10 The Kid 20:00 Cricket: The Ashes 21:00 Once Upon a Time 21:55 5 News Weekend 22:00 Big Brother 23:00 Dumb and Dumber

32

The Courier Monday TV

July 22

00:25 01:25 03:05 03:10 07:00 10:15 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:15 14:00 14:30 14:45 15:10 16:00 17:00 17:45 18:15 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:25 23:35

Luther Night and the City Weatherview BBC News Breakfast Heir Hunters Homes Under the Hammer Fake Britain Helicopter Heroes Bargain Hunt BBC News; Weather Regional News and Weather Doctors Land Girls Only Fools and Horses Perfection Flog It! Pointless BBC News Weather The Sheriffs Are Coming EastEnders Panorama Long Live Britain BBC News Regional News and Weather Long Live Britain

00:00 Mock the Week 00:30 What a Load of Buzzcocks 01:00 Golf: The Open Championship 01:45 Countryfile

02:40 Holby City 03:40 This Is BBC Two 07:05 Homes Under the Hammer 08:05 The Specials 08:35 Bargain Hunt 09:20 Don't Get Done, Get Dom 10:05 Town with Nicholas Crane 11:05 The Chef's Protege 11:35 Click 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 The Maggie 14:30 Mastermind 15:30 Triathlon 17:30 Wild Down Under 18:15 Antiques Roadshow 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Britain's Empty Homes 20:00 Indian Ocean with Simon Reeve 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 Count Arthur Strong 22:00 Rick Stein's India 23:00 What a Load of Buzzcocks 23:30 Newsnight

00:15 Murder, She Wrote 01:10 The Store 03:15 Monk 03:55 Motorsport UK 04:45 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV Meridian Weather 15:00 The Hungry Sailors 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 Take on the Twisters 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 The Dales 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Long Lost Family 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV Meridian Weather 23:35 Benidorm

01:00 White Noise 02:45 Southland 03:25 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 04:20 Secret Eaters 05:20 Deal or No Deal 06:15 Countdown 07:00 The Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Kirstie's Handmade Treasures 08:15 According to Jim 08:40 Will & Grace 09:05 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05 Frasier 11:05 The Big Bang Theory 12:00 Undercover Boss Canada 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 14:05 Hugh's 3 Good Things 14:20 Appointment in London 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Ramadan Diaries 21:00 Dispatches 21:30 Food Unwrapped 22:00 Undercover Boss 23:00 Don't Blame Facebook

DON’T BLAME FACEBOOK Documentary looking at a selection of people from across the UK who have ended up in trouble when they underestimated the power and reach of social media websites. Stories featured include an internet troll who overstepped the mark, a person whose private photos ended up where they shouldn't and a young boy who found himself in hot water.

01:15 Sexters 02:15 SuperCasino 05:00 Nick's Quest 05:25 Make It Big 05:50 Roary the Racing Car 06:00 Angels of Jarm 06:05 Hana's Helpline 06:20 Angels of Jarm 06:25 The Funky Valley Show 06:40 Roary the Racing Car 06:50 Hana's Helpline 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Rupert Bear 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:35 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Milkshake! Monkey 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:30 Milkshake! Show Songs 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Gibraltar: Britain in the Sun 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:15 The Obsession 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Cricket: The Ashes 21:00 The Gadget Show 22:00 Botched Up Bodies 23:00 Big Brother

The Courier Tuesday TV

July 23

00:20 Live at the Apollo 01:05 Weatherview 01:10 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Fake Britain 12:30 Helicopter Heroes 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Land Girls 16:00 Only Fools and Horses 17:00 Perfection 17:45 Flog It! 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Weather 19:30 BBC London News 20:00 The One Show: Best of Britain 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Holby City 22:00 Luther 23:00 BBC News 23:25 National Lottery Update 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Imagine

00:20 01:20 02:20 03:20 07:05 08:05

The Secret Life of Uri Geller The Apprentice Luther This Is BBC Two Homes Under the Hammer Flog It!

08:35 Bargain Hunt 09:20 Don't Get Done, Get Dom 10:05 The Chef's Protege 10:35 The Chef's Protege 11:05 Rhys Jones's Wildlife Patrol 11:35 HARDtalk 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Coast 13:05 Animal Park 13:35 Hue and Cry 14:55 The Super League Show 15:40 Mastermind 16:10 The A to Z of TV Gardening 16:55 A Taste of My Life 17:25 Wild Down Under 18:15 Antiques Roadshow 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Britain's Empty Homes 20:00 Indian Ocean with Simon Reeve 21:00 Raymond Blanc: How to Cook Well 21:30 The Cruise: A Life at Sea 22:00 The Route Masters: Running London's Roads 23:00 Family Tree 23:30 Weather

00:05 Monk 01:00 Jackpot247 04:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 04:55 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV Meridian Weather 15:00 The Hungry Sailors 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 Take on the Twisters 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Nature's Newborns 21:00 Love Your Garden 22:00 Hunting the Doorstep Conmen 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV Meridian Weather 23:35 Ray Mears' Close Encounters

RUDE TUBE Alex Zane presents a countdown of internet A-listers - people who have achieved celebrity or infamy just by appearing online. The show features the so-called Simon Cowell of internet songs, a man who threw a house party in Ikea and the Jesus lookalike who was thrown out of a darts tournament.

00:05 Random Acts 00:10 Coming Up 00:45 Sex on Wheels 01:45 First Dates 02:40 Dates 03:35 Top Boy 04:40 Stonehouse Reunion 04:45 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 05:40 Deal or No Deal 06:25 Countdown 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Hugh's 3 Good Things 08:15 According to Jim 08:40 Will & Grace 09:05 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05 Frasier 11:05 The Big Bang Theory 12:00 Undercover Boss Canada 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 14:05 Kirstie's Handmade Treasures 14:20 Brighton Rock 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Ramadan Diaries 21:00 Kirstie's Fill Your House for Free 22:00 Why Don't You Speak English?

23:00 Rude Tube

00:00 Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 The Walking Dead 01:55 SuperCasino 04:55 HouseBusters 05:20 House Doctor 05:45 House Doctor 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:35 Michaela's Wild Challenge 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Rupert Bear 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:35 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Milkshake! Monkey 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:30 Milkshake! Show Songs 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 The Hotel Inspector Returns 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Trial by Fire 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Aircrash: Hudson River Landing 21:00 I Survived a Fatal Flight 22:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 23:00 Big Brother

33

The Courier Wednesday TV

July 24

08:30 Bargain Hunt 09:15 Don't Get Done, Get Dom 01:30 Synecdoche, New York"

10:00 Helicopter Heroes Down

03:25 Weatherview

Under

03:30 BBC News

10:30 Auction Hero

07:00 Breakfast

11:30 The Chef's Protege

10:15 Heir Hunters

12:00 BBC News

11:00 Homes Under the Hammer

12:30 World News

12:00 Fake Britain

13:00 Animal Park

12:30 Helicopter Heroes

13:25 School for Scoundrels

13:15 Bargain Hunt

15:00 Weakest Link

14:00 BBC News; Weather

15:45 Mastermind

14:30 Regional News and Weather

16:15 The A to Z of TV Gardening

14:45 Doctors

16:55 A Taste of My Life

15:15 Land Girls

17:25 Wild Down Under

16:00 Only Fools and Horses

18:15 Antiques Roadshow

17:00 Perfection

19:00 Eggheads

17:45 Flog It!

19:30 Britain's Empty Homes

18:15 Pointless

20:00 Top Gear

19:00 BBC News

21:00 Restoration Home

19:30 Weather

22:00 The Real White Queen and

20:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming

Her Rivals

21:00 Your Money, Their Tricks

23:00 The Culture Show

22:00 Who Do You Think You Are?

23:30 Newsnight

23:00 BBC News 23:25 National Lottery Update 23:35 Imagine

00:20 The Tube: An Underground History 01:20 The Apprentice 03:20 This Is BBC Two

00:35 01:25 04:00 04:40 06:05 07:00 09:30 10:25 11:30 13:30 Mel 14:30 14:55 15:00 16:00 16:59 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30 23:35

In Plain Sight Jackpot247 In Plain Sight ITV Nightscreen The Jeremy Kyle Show Daybreak Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Let's Do Lunch with Gino & ITV News and Weather ITV Meridian Weather The Hungry Sailors Secret Dealers ITV Meridian Weather Tipping Point Take on the Twisters ITV News Meridian ITV News and Weather Emmerdale Coronation Street The Zoo Ray Mears' Close Encounters ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV Meridian Weather Hunting the Doorstep Conmen

00:05 My Tattoo Addiction 01:10 Random Acts 01:15 Poker 02:15 KOTV Boxing Weekly 02:40 KOTV Beach Volleyball 03:35 The Grid 04:05 Caterham Motorsports 04:40 Ironman 2013 05:05 Triathlon 05:30 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 06:25 Deal or No Deal 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Kirstie's Handmade Treasures 08:15 According to Jim 08:40 Will & Grace 09:05 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05 Frasier 11:05 The Big Bang Theory 12:00 Undercover Boss Canada 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 A Place in the Sun 14:05 Hugh's 3 Good Things 14:15 The Colditz Story 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Ramadan Diaries 21:00 SuperScrimpers 22:00 24 Hours in A&E 23:00 Notes from the Inside with James Rhodes

LOVE/HATE Criminal Darren Treacy risks a return to Dublin for a weekend to celebrate his brother's release from prison, having fled to Spain after a gun was found at his house. However, a tragic event forces him to stay longer than planned - and he soon finds himself being drawn back into old conflicts. Gangland drama, starring Robert Sheehan and Aidan Gillen.

07:00 Homes Under the Hammer 08:00 Flog It!

00:00 Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 CSI: Miami 02:00 SuperCasino 04:55 HouseBusters 05:20 House Doctor 05:45 House Doctor 06:10 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Rupert Bear 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:35 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Milkshake! Monkey 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:30 Milkshake! Show Songs 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Cowboy Traders 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Fairfield Road 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Emergency Bikers 21:00 Myra Hindley: The Untold Story 22:00 Big Brother 23:00 Love/Hate

The Courier Thursday TV

July 25

01:00 Match Point 03:00 Weatherview 03:05 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Fake Britain 12:30 Helicopter Heroes 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Land Girls 16:00 Only Fools and Horses 17:00 Perfection 17:45 Flog It! 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Weather 20:00 Rip Off Britain 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Britain's Favourite Supermarket Foods 22:00 Crimewatch 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Crimewatch Update 23:45 Who Do You Think You Are?

00:20 The Route Masters: Running London's Roads 01:20 Andy Murray: The Man Behind the Racquet 02:20 Horizon 03:20 This Is BBC Two 07:05 Homes Under the Hammer

08:05 Flog It! 08:35 Bargain Hunt 09:20 Don't Get Done, Get Dom 10:05 Peter Jones Meets 11:05 The Chef's Protege 11:35 HARDtalk 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Coast 13:10 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 14:55 Weakest Link 15:40 Mastermind 16:10 The A to Z of TV Gardening 16:55 A Taste of My Life 17:25 Wild Down Under 18:15 Antiques Roadshow 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Britain's Empty Homes 20:00 Celebrity Mastermind 20:30 RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2013 21:00 Dara O Briain's Science Club 22:00 Hebrides: Islands on the Edge 23:00 Mock the Week - Again 23:30 Weather

00:35 The Dales 01:05 Jackpot247 04:00 Columbo: Publish or Perish 05:15 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV Meridian Weather 15:00 The Hungry Sailors 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 Take on the Twisters 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Tonight 21:00 Emmerdale 21:30 Married to the Job 22:00 The Briefs 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV Meridian Weather 23:35 The Zoo

DARA O BRIAIN’S SCIENCE CLUB

New series. The return of the programme in which the comedian and a team of experts investigate a scientific subject each week, beginning with a look at the human mind. Journalist Alok Jha visits Pittsburgh to test whether a computer can actually read his thoughts and oceanographer Helen Czerski goes to Texas to examine a Nasa theory that the Earth's weather is being influenced by a mysterious force.

00:05 Random Acts 00:10 Undercover Boss 01:10 Shameless USA 02:10 Mister Lonely 04:05 Akbar's Cheetah 04:10 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 05:05 Deal or No Deal 06:00 Countdown 06:45 Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Kirstie's Handmade Treasures 08:15 According to Jim 08:40 Will & Grace 09:05 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05 Frasier 11:05 The Big Bang Theory 12:00 Undercover Boss Canada 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 A Place in the Sun 14:05 Kirstie's Vintage Gems 14:25 Carry On Up the Khyber 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Ramadan Diaries 21:00 Supersize vs Superskinny 22:00 First Dates 23:00 Catching a Killer - Crocodile Tears

00:10 Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:10 National Heads Up Poker Championships 02:05 SuperCasino 04:55 Great Scientists 05:20 House Doctor 05:45 House Doctor 06:10 Wildlife SOS 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Rupert Bear 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:35 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 World's Busiest 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Miami 16:15 Rosamunde Pilcher's Winter 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Police Interceptors 21:00 Cowboy Traders 22:00 The Hotel Inspector Returns 23:00 Big Brother

34

Friday, July 19, 2013

CARS FOR SALE

ACCOUNTANTS Pro Business Support – for all your accountancy needs in English; bookkeeping, taxes, wage slips and more.

We cater for companies and self-employed people; we can deal with everything for you. Call us on 966 923 963 for first consultation free of charge.

BATTERY SPECIALIST Battery Specialist. Will diagnose and recondition any type of rechargeable battery- FLA (car, forklift, house), SLA (scooter, marine), LithiumIon (bicycles, laptops). Genuine experience and expertise.

Own workshop relocated from UK. Call or SMS to Michael 679 117788.( 29)

CHURCH SERVICES International Christian Assembly, Calle Pilar de Horadada 5, Torrevieja.

Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday services 11am.

Children's church 11am. House groups in Torrevieja, Los Balcones, San Javier. Ladies meeting Thursdays 11am. Craft club, Tuesdays, 2pm.

Pastor, Rafael Restrepo. All nationalities welcome. Call 966 799 273 or 660 127 276.

AIR CONDITIONING

FRIENDSHIP

Pilar Christian Community Church Calle Canalejas 3.

Pilar de la Horadada.

Sunday Service at 11am, and Thursday at 5pm for Bible study and Prayer.

Home groups meet during the week. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information contact PilarChristian.

CommunityChurch@gmail.c om or contact Reverend Eddie on 966769300 or 650509606.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) meet at 10.00 each Sunday at their Torrevieja meetinghouse in the Torreaguas building on the corner of Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 104, close to the windmill in Torrevieja, 667 533 597.

CARS FOR SALE Car insurance quotes – new extra discount on fully comprehensive policies at the price of third party!

Excellent prices for expats, all policies and call centre staff in English. We will call you back with a quote. 966 923 963

AUCTIONS

Handsome Norwegian Writer 46.Educated.

Resident in apartment near Torrevieja marina. I’m looking for a humoristic English / German / Scandinavian speaking woman 28-45 for friendship or marriage. Call Frankie 634 337 301 manuslaben@gmail.com (125)

INSURANCE CASER SEGUROS - for all your insurance needs, home, car, health, funeral.

Policies available in English and German.

Call Professional Business Support on 966 923 963 for a quick quote from our friendly staff.

PROPERTY FOR RENT Viva Villa and Vacation Services, For Short or Long Term Rentals visit: www.villaandvacation.com or Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 2 or 3 bed / 2 bath apartments in San Miguel. Lift, communal rooftop pool & solarium, video entry system. Available for short or long term rent from 350 pcm. Tel 966723437 or 616 493 487. (128) Ref: 61, A lovely two bedroomed ground floor apartment, located in the centre of the small Spanish town of Los Montesinos, With a pleasant communal swim-

ALARMS

CATERING

ming pool adjacent & all amenities in walking distance. Long and short term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref 33, Ground floor spacious 2 bedroom apartment, located in Torre la Mata.

Close to all amenities and beach.

3 month rental €300pcm Call: 965 707 188 Ref: 104, 2 Bedroom apartment in Torrevieja, (near gypsy lane), small balcony, near all amenities and Friday market. €350pcm Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 112, Spacious 3 bedroom detached villa with its private pool is located on the El Raso urbanisation near Guardamar. Convenient for all amenities, shops, supermarket, restaurants and bars. Short term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref 702: Beautiful 2 bedroom apartment, located near los Locos beach, beautifully furnished. Short term rentals from 175€ per week.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 63, Two bedroom 1st floor apartment situated in Monino Blanco. The property overlooks a superb communal pool area, in within walking distance of bars, restaurants and shops.

Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 WANTED! Properties, all types, in the Torrevieja area wanted for long term rentals.

Call us on 96 692 3963

CARPENTER

LONG TERM RENTALS

PROPERTY FOR SALE

CBR32 : 3 bed, 2 bath apartment in Los Montesinos, very spacious 120 m2, fully furnished, with pool on solarium, only 300 € p/m, available from beginning September, call now on 966 923 963 CBR31 : Town centre apartment in Los Montesinos, with lift, lock up storeroom on solarium, all amenities nearby, spacious 2 bed 1 bath, 250 € p/m El Chaparel/La Siesta Two bedroom apartment in a quiet gated urbanisation for rent €350 per month plus bills. Reference No 17 Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 709, A lovely 1 bedroom apartment in Aguas Nuevas, within a 5 minute walk of the beach. There is a terrace outside with views to the sea. Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 CBR33 : Townhouse for rent in San Luis, 2 bed 1 bath with garage, furnished, 300 € per month plus bills, call 966 923 963.

Ref. CBR21 – A rare chance to rent a frontline beach apartment in Torrevieja!

Ground floor with large terrace, 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, direct and full-on sea views. 500 € pcm. 966 923 963 CBR18 – Detached Spanish villa, beachside Punta Prima, 4 bedrooms, garage, 1200 m2 plot, own pool, 900 € pcm. 966 923 963 CBR27 – Ground floor apartment in closed luxury residential with beautiful communal gardens, pool, 2 beds 1 walk-in shower, redecorated this year. Only 250m walk to beach, inc.parking. 425€ pcm, call 966 923 963

Home and Contents cover Comprehensive policies for house and contents with CASER Seguros - excellent prices for expats; policies available in. Call 966 923 963 for a quote.

Rare opportunity to purchase on Mediterrania III, Gran Alacant. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Private Parking, F/Furnished, Large communal pools & Tennis courts S/W facing, Dramatically reduced for quick sale to 126.000 euros.

Ref No. K58 Call 627 711 155 for immediate viewing Ref: 104 Lovely 2 Bedroom Apartment, close to Shops, walking distance to Friday Market and Town Centre and the beach. The property is close to the Habaneres Shopping Centre and Aquapark. Recently refurbished apartment in a good central location.

Conveniently situated for all the facilities of this modern vibrant town, and only a few blocks away from Torreviejas excellent sea front with its abundant cafes, restaurants and shops. Price €43950 Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 510, €70,000.

Bungalow located in San Luis. It is close to the supermarkets, bars and restaurants and is on the local bus route. An Opel Corsa car is included in this sale. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Lovely Corner property in Novamar V, Gran Alacant. 2 bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms Being sold fully furnished including appliances, Has secure underground parking and faces large oasis communal pool. Walking distance to beach. 139.000 Euros, Call 627 711 155 and quote Ref No. K10

BARBER CAR HIRE

CLEANERS

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Friday, July 19, 2013 Ref: 521, €105,000. This comfortable bungalow is located in San Luis with a new roof and solarium tiles.

It is close to supermarkets, bars, restaurants and is on the local bus route. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref. BRJ1 – 1 bedroom top floor renovated apartment in San Luis. Great sea and lake views. 55.000 €. Tel. 966 923 963 Don Pueblo, Gran Alacant. 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Large Kitchen with Galleria, Secure underground parking, Gas Central Heating, Glazed in Porch, Solarium with stunning views.

Viewings absolutely essential. Very large property at reduced price of 190.000 euros. Ref No. K38 Call 627 711 155 Opportunity to purchase at the off plan price of 195.000 euros. Large 4 Bed, 3 Bath Brand new property. Secure underground parking for 2 cars and communal pool.

Situated opposite Gran

Alacant and over looks projected golf course. Ref No. K52. 627 711 155 Viva Villa and Vacation Services are pleased to offer property sales for the Torrevieja and Oriheula areas of the Costa Blanca, Spain. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 or Visit : www.villaandvacation.com 2 Bed, 1 Bath Ground floor duplex. Central heating, Grills, Fully furnished, Glazed in Galleria, 2 communal pools, private parking and walking distance to the Gran Alacant commercial centre. Situated in the popular urbanisation of Puerto Marino. Now only 96,500 euros for quick sale Ref No. K46. 627 711 155 Immaculate ground floor Duplex, 2 beds, 2 bath, Private Parking, Situated in Novamar, Gran Alacant.

Price includes very tasteful furniture and white goods.

Walking distance to all local amenities and beach. Now only 129,750 euros. Ref No

CAR BREAKERS

K24. 627 711 155 Ref 533: Lovely 2 bedroom duplex located in the popular area of Punta Prima, the property has a large lounge and fully equipped kitchen, 2 double bedrooms, one with balcony, bathroom with double shower. €126,000 Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Gran Alacant Detached villa, located in a very sought after location.Situated on a 560m2 S/W facing plot and constructed in 2005.

Comprising of 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 full baths), Lounge-Diner, fully equipped Kitchen, Porch and Solarium with Alicante & Sea Views. ref.L81. €258,000 neg.

Tel. 680333242 Gran Alacant Town House with a difference.

2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Glazed in Porch, Quiet Location, Extra storage areas, and South Facing Private Pool as well as 2 communal pools. Fully Furnished, All mod cons.

Greenland Views and all local amenities close by.

Ref. No L79. 179.000 euros

680 333 242 Ref: 520, €80,000. Two bedroom apartment in Dream Hills, with a fully equipped kitchen, large lounge, glazed-in terrace and a large solarium. This property comes with a large communal swimming pool. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Top floor Duplex. Very good price of 108.000 euros for a quick sale. Furnished to a very high standard, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, Lounge Diner, Glazed in Porch, Large Roof Top Solarium.

Choice of Communal Pools, Private Parking. Walking distance to all amenities and on the First urbanisation as you enter Gran Alacant.

Viewing essential. Ref No. K44. Tel. 627 711 155 Gran Alacant immaculate villa, 3 bedroomed, 3 bathroomed property maintained to a very high standard inside and out and the interior furnishings are top quality, offering a feeling of luxury and good taste. The plot size is 400m2 and has been beautifully tiles, and graveled and has established

HOUSE / BAR CLEARANCE

palms and plants. Oil fired central heating throughout, log effect fire place, ceiling fans in all rooms, towel heater rails, glazed in shower units, instant hot water, water purifier, free English TV, phone & internet lines, fitted double hanging wardrobes, safe, glazed in front porch, vanity units and much more. The pool is an 8 X 4 m2 salt water pool, meaning maintenance is much easier plus outside toilet and shower. Sea views to front with Greenland views to the rear. ref K51. €245,000 Tel 680333242 Balsares is opposite Gran Alacant where the proposed golf course is now being started so this property will

virtually be on the golf course, it is an investment not to be missed. The property is on a small gated urbanisation of 18 houses with private underground parking for 2 cars and direct access to the house, communal pool and toilets/changing rooms etc.

The house is brand new and consists of 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, lounge with working fire place, large kitchen 12 m2, large galleria/ utility room, bedroom balcony and front tiled terrace. This property also has a converted under build for an extra lounge or bedroom. ref K52 €198,000 Tel 680333242

JEWELLERY

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Friday, July 19, 2013

Ref: 516, €39,999. Studio apartment in San Luis, close to amenities. Open plan fully equipped kitchen.

Good sized lounge, bedroom and out onto balcony which has been glazed to create another room. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 78, €120,000. Three bedroom Quad in Jardin Del Mar VII. There is off-road parking and small storage shed in the enclosed garden area, communal pool nearby. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 709, €60,000 A lovely 1 bedroom apartment in Aguas Nuevas, within a 5 minute walk of the beach.

There is a terrace outside with views to the sea. Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Gran Alacant Opportunity to purchase a beautiful 3 bedroomed, 3 bathroomed,large kitchen, detached property with rooftop solarium. Well established gardens and drive way for 2 cars, whilst also overlooking the projected 18 hole golf course.

Comprising of fitted wardrobes, utility room, air con H/C, alarm system, electric wall heaters, intercom system, fireplace, ceilings fans, 8x7 gazebo, use of 2 large communal pools, immaculate condition with many extras. ref K12. €180,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant bargain, detached villa with pool on 400m2 plot. Briefly comprising of 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, Lounge Diner, inde-

pendent kitchen, solarium with views, well maintained gardens. Quiet location yet within walking distance of all amenities. Top quality furniture and appliances included in the price. Extras include, mosquito nets, grills, toldos blinds, built in wardrobes, gas fire, electric heating, ceiling fans, English & Spanish TV, tastefully tiled & graveled garden with irrigation system. ref K43. €229,000 Tel 680333242 Ref: KP3100, €183,000.

Three bedroom, two bathroom detached villa, located in San Luis, on a 450sqm plot, with communal pool.

Garage to side of house.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Gran Alacant South facing attractive corner house Situated in the sought after urbanization of Monte Faro, this secure gated urbanization offers a stunning oasis pool, with mountain views, tennis courts and football courts. Consisting of 3 double beds with balconies, 2 bathrooms, kitchen leading onto court yard which can easily be converted into an extra room, lounge diner with working fireplace, front garden with private parking for 2 cars. Being sold fully furnishes with white goods, built in 2006 so immaculate condition hardly lived in. Ref K48 €168,000 priced for quick sale Tel 680333242 Ref: 513, €115,000. Two bedroom ground floor apartment, in Aguas Nuevas, close to all amenities including the beach. It has a good

MAN AND A VAN

size lounge, kitchen and has off road parking facilities. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Gran Alacant Limited edition bungalow. Only six of this type available in Gran Alacant. Constructed in 2003 and immaculately maintained on a large plot size of 500m2 with a 10 x 5 pool.Comprising of 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge-diner leading out onto front porch, independent kitchen including white goods, outside galleria, court yard, large garage with electric door, roof top solarium and private parking. Also built in wardrobes, Toldos blinds, air con H/C, security grills, alarm, security doors, bathrooms heaters, outside toilet, outdoor lighting, irrigation system, attractive and well kept gardens, beautifully tiled inside and out, fire place, English TV, phone line.

Being sold with top quality furniture. ref L95. €275,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant South facing attractive corner house Situated in the sought after urbanization of Monte Faro, this secure gated urbanization offers a stunning oasis pool, with mountain views, tennis courts and football courts. Consisting of 3 double beds with balconies, 2

PETS

bathrooms, kitchen leading onto court yard which can easily be converted into an extra room, lounge diner with working fireplace, front garden with private parking for 2 cars. Being sold fully furnishes with white goods, built in 2006 so immaculate condition hardly lived in. Ref K48 €168,000 priced for quick sale Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, Ground floor south west facing apartment in Puerto Marino close to G.A commercial centre, comprising of 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, Lounge-Diner, Independent Kitchen with Galleria, Porch area and large tiled front garden, The property is being sold fully furnished and includes all kitchen appliances, H & C Air con is fitted as well as sky TV. The apartment enjoys the use of 2 large communal pools and has private parking in an enclosed electronically gated car park.

Competitively priced for a quick sale. Ref. K40 €91,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant beautiful detached villa with very large pool and within walking distance to the Gran Alacant Commercial Centre.

This villa comprised of 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, lounge-diner, Independent kitchen, roof top storage, solarium, porch & terrace.

Large private pool, BBQ area, established gardens and private terraces, Private Parking, Solarium with Views to Alicante. 450m2 plot, fully furnished including white goods. Located in very quiet desirable road. ref.L96. €255,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant Gem! Fabulous detached Villa,

with Alicante sea views to the front and wood land views to the rear, means this immaculate villa is very private and un-overlooked.

Comprising of 2 large bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, 2 bath, large fully equipped kitchen,glazed porch sitting area, solarium, Attractive Pool with cover, well maintained Gardens. Central Heating, Air Con, Ceiling fans, Private Parking, Alarm system, Decorative working Fire Place complete with electric Fire. Outdoor workshop/storage area, Quality Pergola & BBQ. Constructed in 2006, on plot size of 380m2 and being sold fully furnished including white goods. ref L80. €234,995 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, Rare investment!! corner south facing opportunity on Novamar urbanisation.This immaculate ground floor duplex has been kept and maintained to a very high standard inside and out the position is fantastic, enjoys views over the lovely oasis communal pool, surrounded by lawned gardens.

Comprising of plot size 100m2 Build Size 90m2, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished, Anti-Glare Windows, Security Door, Security Grills, Built-in Wardrobes, Extra Storage, Galleria, Electric Panel Heaters, Heated Towel Rails, Air Con (h&c), Ceiling. Fans. Thermo Shower, Vanity Units and decoratively tiled throughout, exquisite garden, Underground private parking. Ref.K10 €139,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, Situated in the central area of Gran

Alacant and within walking distance to all local amenities such as a selection of different cuisine restaurants, bars, pharmacies, banks, popular GA market and Carabassi Beach.

Comprises of 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with a private garage and roof-top solarium. This property is part of a small urbanization which has the use of a large decorative communal pool. Ref. K36 €149,000 Tel 680333242 Ground floor duplex, with splendid views. Quiet location in Gran Alacant.

Immaculate condition. Price has just been reduced to 105.000 and includes everything. For viewing call 627 711 155 Ref. No K27 Gran Alacant detached villa with converted under build and pool. Comprising of 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Lounge- Diner, Front Porch, Large Solarium, decoratively tiled, Irrigated Garden.

BBQ and Log Storage Cupboard. Raised walls for Privacy. Also many extras, toldos blinds, freshly decorated interior, Grills, Mosquito Nets, Air Con H/C, Ceiling Fans, Log Burner Fire, Electric Radiators, Heated Towel Rails, Alarmed, Phone Line, Satellite UK TV, private parking. Plot size 310m2 under build 100m2. price includes all furniture.The under build consists of 2 beds, lounge, kit/utility room. ref L79. €250,000 Tel. 680333242 Ref: 520, €85,000. Two bedroom apartment in Dream Hills, with a fully equipped kitchen, large lounge, glazed-in terrace and a large solarium. This property comes with a large

PERSONAL

POOL TABLES

PLUMBERS

POOLS

DAMP PROOFING

DRAINAGE

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Friday, July 19, 2013 communal swimming pool.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Gran Alacant immaculate outstanding south facing villa in sought after road.

Set on a 350m2 plot with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths,large porch, solarium and terraces. The large under build includes a lounge, kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom and patio doors leading to pool area. Internal & external access for under build.

Extras include electric radiators, air con H/C, ceiling fans, gas fire, heated towel rails, extended walk-in shower, fitted wardrobes.

Decorative tiling inside and out.

Panoramic views towards Alicante Bay, Sky TV, phone line and Internet & Private parking, established gardens, water features and fruit trees. Being sold with exquisite furniture and all white goods.

Immaculate finishes and decor. ref L84. €278,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, Large detached villa with beautiful

gardens set on 550m2 plot, built in BBQ area and large 10x6 pool.Comprising of 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Lounge Diner with fire place, Independent Kitchen, air con H/C, Solarium, front porch, converted under build with 3 extra rooms, private covered parking, irrigated gardens, close distance to beach and amenities. Ref. K18 €250,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, Situated on the very first urbanisation as you enter Gran Alacant, this 2nd floor duplex offers taste and quality. Comprising of 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, lounge-diner, independent kitchen, full roof-top solarium with superb views and recently glazed in porch offering extra living area as well as extra privacy as the glass is mirrored. Ref.K44 €108,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, Situated in the "Alto" part of Gran Alacant, this 3 bedroomed, 4th floor apartment, offers luxury accommodation, with absolutely stunning sea

SURVEYOR

STORAGE

views, as well as views of Alicante bay and the famous Santa Barbara Castle.The apartment is 89 square meters with open plan kitchen / living room and includes all electrical appliances & furniture also there is a utility room, open terrace, and private parking.

The urbanisation also offers many communal pools, tennis courts, restaurants and bars. Ref. K20 €109,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant villa located in a very quiet area , situated at the end of a cul-de-sac means there is no through traffic.3 bed, 3 bath, 330m2 plot, established large gardens, working fireplace, solar panel for hot water,private parking, south facing great views, fully furnished, fantastic opportunity. ref.

L85. €215,000 Tel 680333242 Beach front Line property, over looks Carabassi Beach, Gran Alacant. 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Secure Underground Parking, Fully furnished, Roof Top Solarium. 3 Large Communal Pools, Fantastic communal Gardens, Tennis Courts and much more.

125.000 Euros Ref No. K23.

Tel. 627 711 155 Gran Alacant, Situated front line to the famous blue flag beaches of Carabassi, the real beauty of this property

is its proximity to the beach, but also on offer is a fantastic communal pool situated in beautifully kept gardens with little Spanish walk ways.Comprising of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge diner, American style kitchen including all appliances, roof top solarium with stunning views, front porch area with front garden and a secure underground garage. fully furnished Ref. K23 €125,000 rare opportunity Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant limited edition villa, not very often available on the market. Only a few of this type were ever constructed- Very large 5 bedrooms, 4 bathroom(2 ensuit) property, situated on a large corner plot with a 10 x 5 private pool and private parking. Lounge-diner with working fireplace, fully equipped kitchen with utility room. Large landing area, leading onto solarium, with extra storage external room.

Front porch area leading into large well established gardens with irrigation system and fruit trees. Being sold fully furnished. Within walking distance to Gran Alacant commercial centre and 5 minute drive to Carabassi beaches. ref.

K11. €270,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant large detached villa with 3 double

RAG AND BONE REMOVALS

bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge-diner, fully equipped kitchen, large porch, roof top solarium, 400 m2 Plot, with established low maintenance very private gardens with irrigation system, electronic gates, private parking, outside wc, sink & shower, terraces, air con ( h & c ), mosquito nets, grills, alarmed, large spa pool with separate Jacuzzi section.

Within easy walking distance to Gran Alacant commercial centre and close to local bus and tram route.

Ref K33. €260,000 neg Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, detached villa in desirable road close to all amenities, comprising of 3 double bedrooms, 3 baths, lounge diner with working fire place, brand new kitchen with all appliances and black granite work tops, private pool, plot of 550m2, established irrigated gardens and fruit trees, private parking, solarium, also there is a converted under build giving more bedrooms ,bathroom & kitchen, this house has many extras and is being sold fully furnished.

Ref.k47. €280,000 neg Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant south-facing, very private villa, with woodland and Alicante views.

Situated at the end of a small cul-de-sac which means this villa enjoys a very peaceful location.3 Bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, 3 Bathrooms, lounge-diner with working fireplace, fully fitted kitchen with including white goods, large front porch, solarium,workshop and storage in under build, central heating, air con H/C, ceiling fans, grills, UK T.V, off road parking and plenty of outside parking also. Due to its orientation of this property enjoys full sun, all day, something very important in the winter months. Ref.K24. €237,000 Tel 680333242

QUIZZES

VAN HIRE

WARDROBES

Experienced quizmaster/question setter with personality available to host

quiz nights in local bars.

Tel:- 664 838 581

SITUATIONS VACANT RADIO COSTA INTERNATIONAL needs motivated sellers. Spanish, English and German language is a bonus but not essential.

Training and good earnings guaranteed. For more info call 644 126 600 or email info@radicocostainternational.com Installation company "Joval Accesibilidad" is looking for independent representatives to sell their products in the province of Alicante and Murcia.

Spanish and English language skills are essential. For an interview call 966 090 762. (125)

SOLICITORS Need English speaking solicitors in Torrevieja? Let us help to solve your problems with debt recovery, divorce, property, fraud, criminal defence. Call us on 966 923 963, give us brief details and get in touch with your specialist solicitor today

WIG SPECIALIST SALON MARGARETHAS, 23 years in Torrevieja Hair/Wig specialist for Medical illness and Hair Loss problems. We offer different Hair Replacements, top fillers, Hair prostheses, Toupees and Wigs, Natural and Artificial hair and much more. Also fashion/festival accessories TV/TS are welcome to our service. Please call our salon reception for an appointment with Margaretha on Tel no 966 921 846 Torrevieja (90)

WANTED

38

Friday, July 19, 2013

Greenside Gossip IVIE DAVIES takes a weekly look at the golf scene - golfdavies@gmail.com

MISSING THE LINK COULD BE COSTLY

Well The Open has started at Muirfield, and I am sure there will be some shocks when Sunday’s final round comes, but one of the biggest surprises for me was last week at the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, when only a few of the top players could be bothered to get the Link course experience.

Only 2 of the world’s best 25 players went to Castle Stuart, a few miles east of Inverness. As there are precious few other chances to hone the skills needed on a links course, it is a staggeringly small number, and all the more so after Darren Clarke and Ernie Els showed what a useful investment participation could be. Els and Phil Mickelson, respectively 13th and 8th in the world rankings, are the two who turned up last week. There was no shortage of quality throughout the field, but it was unquestionably thin at the very top, with neither the South African nor the American understanding why. Obviously, with playing in the Open the week after the Scottish Open, this was the perfect preparation to play some kind of links golf on the very new Castle Stuart course.

At least the absence of Graeme McDowell, the world No 6, was no mystery, as he returned to the European winners’ fold the previous weekend by lifting the French Open. He then celebrated his achievement by accusing Castle Stuart of being “one-dimensional” and “not strong enough” to host an event of the supposed calibre of a national open. In my opinion you have to worry about G-Mac, as he was the guy that encouraged Rory McIlroy to quit the International Sports Management group. Ernie Els, however, drew comparisons with Carnoustie, one of the Scottish event’s previous homes, suggesting that it had erred in the opposite direction and that preparations did not have to be brutal to be effective. I am surprised as I would have thought more international players would have shown up there, especially as it’s just a short drive down to Muirfield.

The comments that have been made including some of

trated on forging his status as one of America’s premier TV golf analysts. Sir Nick has all but turned his back on competitive golf, remaining inactive in recent years. He last played the Open in 2010 at St Andrews, electing to miss, Sandwich and Lytham. However, Faldo realised the revered East Lothian links would not be bypassed so easily, not with his history there.

Sir Nick has been fighting this for years, but he reflected this is one more walk; he’ll probably never get a chance to walk again at Muirfield. These are realistic ambitions for the golfer whose legendary drive and work ethic took him to six majors. Faldo reappeared at Muirfield as a far softer character, and no golf journalist will ever forget how, in his victory speech in 1992, he allowed bitterness to define the moment of his Open hat-trick by declaring he would like to thank the press “from the heart of my bottom”.

the players claiming that they didn’t believe that they would get a real test at Castle Stuart have been just remarkable. At least ‘Lefty’ Phil Mickleson has been consistent in his enthusiasm for the Scottish Open, regardless of where it has been played. At one time, his presence could be explained by the fact that he and the event were both sponsored by Barclays, but he has continued his support since the bank pulled out two years ago. And he was rewarded last weekend by winning it with a bank breaking chip on the first hole playoff.

Some players just wanted to take the week (or more) off; go play links golf and just have a relaxed day. Surely this was not the ideal preparation for such a major event on a course they only play probably once a year?

FALDO’S MUIRFIELD MEMORIES

TITTER ON THE TEE A husband and wife were out playing golf. They tee off and one drive goes to the right and one drive goes to the left. The wife finds her ball in a patch of buttercups. She grabs a club and takes a mighty swing at the ball. She hits a beautiful second shot, but in the process she hacks the hell out of the buttercups.

Suddenly a woman appears out of nowhere. She blocks her path to her golf bag and looks at her and says, "I'm Mother Nature, and I don't like the way you treated my buttercups. From now on, you won't be able to stand the taste of butter. Each time you eat butter you will become physically ill to the point of total nausea."

The mystery woman then disappears as quickly as she appeared.

Shaken, the wife calls out to her husband "Darling, where's your ball?"

"It's over here in the pussy willows."

The wife screams back, "DON'T HIT THE BALL!!!! DON'T HIT THE BALL!!!!"

KNOW YOUR RULES Question: If a player, while putting with one hand, uses another club to lean on and steady himself. Is the use of a club in this manner considered to be use of equipment in an unusual manner, contrary to Rule 14-3?

Answer: Yes and the result is disqualification. This comes under Rule14-3 - Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment.

Sir Nick Faldo celebrated his 56th birthday yesterday with one more walk in the major spotlight by teeing off on the course where he won the first and last of his three Claret Jugs. He returned to Muirfield with his son Matthew smiling proudly on his bag and the memories burning bright in his mind.

It was not an easy decision to reach, as he has concen-

WILL ROSE BLOOM? Nick Faldo was the last English player to lift the Claret Jug when he triumphed at Muirfield in 1992 and Justin Rose is hoping to emulate his compatriot at the same venue this weekend. For Rose, it’ll be exciting to play as a major champion for the first time in another major so if he comes down the last two or three holes with a chance to win, that's when he can draw upon what happened at the US Open a few weeks ago. Up until that point, it's irrelevant but certainly if he gets himself into a winning position then Merion will definitely help.

Rose is amongst the straightest drivers on the PGA Tour but is considering adding a two-iron to his bag to hit the fairways at Muirfield where the rough is long and thick. A tough challenge would suit his game. He’s been hitting the ball really well of late and from Merion's perspective that was what was required - keeping the ball in front of you, keeping out of trouble and hopefully the Open will play similarly.

Rose won the Silver Medal for finishing as the leading amateur in The Open 15 years ago when he came fourth at Royal Birkdale, and it remains his highest finish in the event.

Just because Phil Mickleson won the Scottish Open does give him creditability on a links course, but no player has ever gone from that to win the Open but probably it might be worth a crafty 10 Euro bet!

My View:- It will not be Tiger - although he is favourite.

Ernie lost his cred’ by missing the cut, but he did win his first “Jug” at Muirfield. But it’s absolutely stretching it to expect Luke, Poults, Rory, G-Mac or even two-time Open Championship winner Padraig Harrington to lift the Claret Jug come Sunday afternoon.

39

Friday, July 19, 2013

PRINCES AND PAUPERS

Can economical Elche expect to equal the La Liga Lords and their lolly?

Last Friday, Real Madrid paraded their new 32 million Euro signing, commentator’s nightmare ‘Illarramendi’ from Real Sociedad, around the Bernabeu in Spain’s capital, while a few hundred kilometres south in the City of Palms, Elche’s football director Jose Sepulcre was welcoming their new goalkeeper (a third one?) Tonu from Granada, signed for a packet of Fortuna and two churros. OK, I made up that last bit, but as Elche’s total budget for the crucial 2013/14 season to move into La Liga is reputed to be a mere €12 million, you begin to get some idea of the difference of two clubs at either end of the poco-loco world of finance-filled football.

But hey, aqui en Espana this season Elche aren’t alone in this ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ pantomime scenario. The Illicitanos’ first match of the new season is actually in Madrid, though not at the beguiling Bernabau or even Athletico’s awesome Vicente Calderon’s stadium, but to the more modest 14,700 seater Vallecas stadium, home of Rayo Vallecano – who? Well, think QPR or Crystal Palace: - clubs hardly known outside their own country but who have their moments now and again, in and out of the big league. After a sharp financial lesson from the dreaded receiver a couple of years ago, this lively little Madrid club operate successfully in La Liga on a total player budget of half of Christian Ronaldo’s

salary alone, coming a very respectable eighth last season.

So it can be done, existing in La Liga on a tiny budget - but with big clubs like Real Zaragoza, Deportivo la Coruna and Mallorca changing places with Elche, Villarreal and Almeria it’s the onfield management that’s key. Can Elche’s main man, shrewd experienced coach (aren’t they all at the beginning of the season?) Fran Escriba work his magic again, albeit on the biggest stage, and just keep Elche up there ‘til the illicitanos find their way around themselves?

Here in the sticks, courtesy of the aforementioned Athletico, one Ruben Perez has just come to Elche on a year’s loan. The midfielder could have gone to either Real Betis or Villarreal, but apparently wanted to play for Elche, probably because now that the Illicitanos are in the big league. It’s seen as preferable to be strutting your stuff playing regularly in a first team, rather than sweating and straining on the bench - or worse - for a bigger club. That way the minor club only has to worry Illarramendi about paying wages

Elche friendly back on FC Torrevieja Internacional’s friendly with La Liga newcomers Elche is back on after the President, Vicente Boix, called in a company to sort out the state of the Vicente Garcia stadium pitch.

Boix added that Saturday August 31st had been pencilled in for what would be a fund-raising match for the club, and that work had already started at the ground

which would take around 20 days, in time for Torrevieja’s pre-season fixtures. The President’s move comes after Torrevieja council refused to fund or partfund any improvements.

The league campaign kicks-off at home to La Nucia on Sunday August 25th, and there’ll be at least three friendly fixtures for the team ahead of the start of the season.

Koeman quits Torrevieja FC Torrevieja Internacional have failed to hang on to last season’s top scorer and Player of the Year, Koeman.

The fan favourite has moved to Novelda, despite the club President pledging a fortnight ago to do everything to keep him at the Vicente Garcia stadium.

With fellow-striker Petu having left for Eldense, Torrevieja are believed to be interested in the Almoradi forward, Obele, who played there under manager, Anselmo Serrano Carmona. He has though signed up a new first team coach to help him:-Jorge Trigueros Torres who has spent the last two seasons at Callosa Deportiva.

Meanwhile, the veteran playmaker, Carrasco is back at the club. The 35 year old was a star signing for Torrevieja two years ago, but financial problems meant that he had to go else-

where. He went to La Hoya Lorca, helping them to the playoffs. The club revealed that they are also interested in bringing back the former Torrevieja player, Ernesto.

In the last week, the club has signed central defender, 24 year old Rodrigo Gomez Mateos "Rodri” from Murcia Imperial; 27 year old goalkeeper Antonio Bas Carrion, known as "Carrion", who comes from Callosa Deportiva; 26-year-old midfielder Jose Manuel Calderon Manzano, known as "Micro” who played last season for Crevillente; and 25 year old defender Eloy Martínez Fernández "Eloy", who played under manager Carmona at Almoradi. Players that have resigned in the last week include defenders Vicente Boix and Dani Meseguer, as well as midfielder Gasch.

Ruben Perez and not astronomical transfer fees – like €32 million. Also lately arrived at the being-hastily-tarted-up Martinez Valero are a hopefully dynamic duo from Seville – striker Manu del Moral and Serbian International midfielder Miroslav Stevanovich - and to replace my favourite departed centreback Etxeita is one David Lomban from Barcelona ‘B’. Hope he’s good.

Summary: Elche have let go seven freely from last year’s squad already and are selling two more, strikers Bery Powel and Pelayo. So four newbies in plays nine out. Hmm: worry with me and watch this space.

P.S. tee-hee – did you see Elche’s bitter rivals Hercules are in trouble with match-fixing - again? All over the opposition first-half, but goalless, big bets with huge odds at half time placed on the pulverized opposition: strange turn around second half, as Hercules lose 3 -0. Three years ago on the last game of the season, the Alicantinos were third and needed a win to go up. The Cordoba goalkeeper let three sitters in as his team stopped playing and Hercules were promoted: but despite some phone evidence nothing was proved. Lightning striking twice?

EVERY DAY’S A FOOTBALL DAY July 20th 1974 Brian Clough is named manager of Leeds Utd, only to be dismissed just 44 days later.

21st 2007 David Beckham makes his debut for LA Galaxy, a 1-0 friendly loss to Chelsea. He came on after 78 minutes and had 8 touches of the ball.

22nd 2002 Rio Ferdinand becomes the World’s costliest defender when he joins Manchester Utd from Leeds for £30m.

23rd 2010 The French Football Federation suspends all 23 members of their World Cup squad at the request of new manager Laurent Blanc.

24th 1958 Jim Leighton, ex Aberdeen and Manchester Utd goalkeeper, famously dropped for the FA Cup final replay in 1990, is born in Johnstone, Scotland.

25th 1993 Bolivia hand Brazil their first ever World Cup qualifying defeat, beating them 2-0 in La Paz. 26th 1887 Blackpool Football Club is formed.

Compiled by STUART EVANS

Friday, July 19, 2013

40

WAYNE’S WORLD IN A SPIN SCORNED SCOUSER SEES RED!

Has Moyes muffed his maiden management move - or was Wayward Wayne wending anyway?

At last, and with only four short weeks to go, the brown, smelly stuff has been directed straight into the rotating cooling device, but just who is projecting it?

Wayne Rooney may at last be controversially leaving his adopted home at Old Trafford and heading towards the bright lights in England’s capital, perhaps with Chelsea’s Juan Mata and/or David Luiz going the other way to tempt United, which makes sense. But if Rooney goes, he will be forever branded a true traitor at United, particularly as he comes from Liverpool, albeit an Evertonian: such things are crucially important in the North West. But there’s more to this saga, isn’t there?

David Moyes is not a man to waste words, or get them wrong. So it seems strange his apparent gaffe in telling Wayne and the world the burly one is not good enough to start regularly in United’s first team – as predecessor Alex Ferguson had before, remember

John McGregor reports

Real Madrid – unless Robin van Persie is injured or out. You can see Rooney’s point in wanting to leave when, as the first name written on an England team sheet he is clearly not first choice for his club. Is Moyes moneying about? Chelski have Siberian salt mines full of the stuff, it shouldn’t be a problem - and Mou’s not afraid of spending it to get his man - remember Shevchenko - £30 million, was it?

Rooney wasn’t really injured at all, whizzing back from the Far East tour to angrily put himself in the shop window. Arsenal and Spurs are also both needing a top-class striker (who doesn’t, it’s only really United who don’t with their assortment of riches).

Don’t forget, Moyes and Rooney go back a long Liverpudlian way to Goodison days pre-United, and after leaving for Old Trafford there was some unsavoury ‘afters’ when Wacky Wayne wasted his old boss in his book making nasty accusations of mismanagement of him while at Everton. Moyes sued and won and the matter was supposedly forgotten. But now the two are ‘re-United’ at England’s greatest club, it seems Moyes is determined to sort this one out, sooner rather than later.

When Rooney left his native city of Liverpool in 2004 he crossed a big, dangerous line in going to the damned United at Old Trafford, but he soon won ‘em

round with star performances. But now after Rooney’s nearly-leaving saga of three years ago when Fergie smoothed it over, those faithful fans from the Stretford End and elsewhere all over the world have long memories and won’t forgive him again if he stays this time.

Tip, Wayne: don’t take Coleen out for a meal anywhere in Mancunia - or Liverpool. Head sarf, guvnor - and don’t look back.

Traitor? Quisling? ‘Biter’-of-the-hand-that-feeds-you (and that of your marker on the field)? Talking of being disloyal and breaking out for pastures new, wayward Wayne might meet Lousy Luis on the train going south for the interviews. After everyone at Anfield has buckled under the strain of keeping the ungrateful Uruguayan happy on Merseyside, Suarez is already trying to slide out of his contract with a £30 million Arsenal bid, since scuppered by his puzzled management. I thought Suarez’s problem was with the British press, who strangely don’t like watching players, however gifted, racistly abusing others and biting them, and then whingeing at the perfectly-reasonable sentences meted out. It would make great sense to put some ‘Real’ geographical distance between Liverpool and your next club, but Arsenal? Doesn’t make sense – but hey, this is football, since when did it?